Pecci's Walk-Off Gives RailCats Dramatic Fourth of July Win
Published on July 4, 2009 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
GARY, Ind. - Jay Pecci singled in two runs in the bottom of the tenth inning as the Gary SouthShore RailCats came from behind to win a thrilling 2-1 game over the Winnipeg Goldeyes Saturday night at U. S. Steel Yard.
After the two teams played nine scoreless innings, Winnipeg got the game's first run when Josh Asanovich's hard-hit ground ball went off the glove of Eric McNamee with two outs in the top of the tenth, scoring Adam Frost from second base.
Goldeyes closer Matt Davis came on in search of his league-leading 12th save in the bottom of the inning, but Davis walked Mike Massaro to lead things off. McNamee came up next and after failing on a bunt attempt lined a two-strike single to center to push Massaro to second base. The runners advanced on a wild pitch, and two pitches later Pecci drove a breaking ball through a drawn in Winnipeg infield to score both runners before being mobbed by the onrushing RailCats dugout in front of the mound.
The win was the RailCats second walk-off victory in the last three days and third on their nine-game homestand, which wraps up Sunday afternoon. The tenth inning singles for McNamee and Pecci were the second of the game for each player, but only two other RailCats had a hit on a day dominated by brilliant pitching.
Chris Jones - starting for the first time since June 7 after being sidelined with hip tendinitis - fired a fantastic six innings, setting down the first eight men he saw in order and allowing only three hits and one walk. Jones struck out five and did not allow a single runner to reach second base. Eddie De la Cruz, Clint Goocher and Andy Shipman (3-2), kept the game scoreless into the tenth when Shipman allowed the unearned run.
On the other side Mark Michael matched Jones inning for inning, pitching out of a pair of early jams to get through six scoreless innings. Michael issued four walks but allowed only two hits, and left five RailCats runners on base in the first three innings. Chris Homer got the game into the tenth with two excellent late innings, striking out the side in order in the bottom of the ninth.
The RailCats (23-23) and Goldeyes (28-14) close out the first half of the season Sunday at 2 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard. It's another The Times Family Day at the Steel Yard, with a coupon good for four box seat tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips and four sodas for $36 available in Sunday's editions of The Times. Tickets are available by calling 219.882.2255 or visiting the U. S. Steel Yard Box Office.
Left-hander Tom Thornton (6-3, 5.26 ERA) will make the start for the RailCats against Goldeyes All-Star Ace Walker (5-1, 1.53). That game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.
Northern League Stories from July 4, 2009
- Pecci's Walk-Off Gives RailCats Dramatic Fourth of July Win - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Flyers Force Rubber Match with 6-3 Win - Kansas City Monarchs
- Flyers snap skid - Schaumburg Flyers
- Fast Start Powers RedHawks - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- RedHawks Top JackHammers 10-4 - Joliet JackHammers
- Dollar Days at CommunityAmerica Ballpark - Kansas City Monarchs
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