RailCats Come Back Late to Beat T-Bones 4-3 in Game One
September 2, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Rob Marconi hit a game-tying solo home run in the eighth and Mike Rohde gave the Gary SouthShore RailCats their first lead of the night with a run-scoring single in the ninth as the RailCats topped the Kansas City T-Bones 4-3 in Game One of their best-of-five Northern League Semifinal at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
On a night when both starting pitchers were excellent, the 'Cats slowly clawed their way out of a 3-0 hole behind veteran left-hander Tony Cogan (1-0). Cogan allowed hits to four of the first five hitters he faced, including a Jim Fasano three-run home run in the first, but was virtually untouched after that. Cogan pitched eight innings and allowed only two hits after the first, retiring 13 in a row between the third and seventh innings. The third-year RailCat did not walk a batter and struck out five, earning the second playoff win of his Northern League career.
The 'Cats got a run on the board in the fourth inning when Steve Haake took Dustin Bolton out of the park to right. For Haake - who hit a career-high 10 home runs and drove in a career-best 67 in the regular season - the home run was the fifth of is RailCats playoff career, more than any other player.
Bolton continued to work well into the sixth when Eric McNamee started a rally with a first-pitch double. Two pitches later, Jay Pecci doubled him home from second on a line drive that just landed fair in deep right before caroming into the seats. The call was hotly contested by Kansas City manager Andy McCauley, who was ejected from the game.
The game remained 3-2 T-Bones as Cogan kept mowing down Kansas City hitters when Bolton went back out for the eighth. Marconi stepped in to lead off the inning and ripped a 1-1 pitch just over the wall in deep left. Marconi, who hit six home runs in the regular season, carried some offensive momentum into September after driving in 18 runs in August.
Brady Martinez (0-1) replaced Bolton with one out in the eighth and worked out of a jam to keep the game tied. In the ninth, Cristian Guerrero walked to lead off to chase Martinez and bring Justin James out of the bullpen. Anthony Esquer came up first against James and twice fouled off bunt attempts before getting one down with an 0-2 count and successfully moving Guerrero up to second. Rohde followed Esquer and - despite also falling behind 0-2 - lined a missile over the head of first baseman Jim Fasano into right, scoring Guerrero from second with the winning run.
Andy Shipman worked the ninth inning, and after Jacob Blackwood doubled with two outs the former T-Bone got Jeff Helps to ground out to second base and end the game. Shipman led the Northern League with 14 regular season saves and got his first of his postseason career Wednesday after winning a league championship as the T-Bones setup man in 2008.
Bolton went 7.1 innings for Kansas City, allowing only seven hits and one walk to go with the three earned runs. Kansas City got only three hits all game after the first, finishing with two each out of Greg Jacobs and Blackwood. The RailCats collected nine hits, two each from Rohde, McNamee and Jordan Czarniecki.
The series continues with game two Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. back at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Right-hander Garret Holleran (5-2, 3.46 ERA) will make his first career post-season start against Kansas City southpaw Ryan Knippschild (4-8, 4.44 ERA). The game will be broadcast as an internet stream only on www.railcatsbaseball.com and www.thelakeshorefm.com.
Notes: Haake's fourth inning home run was his 43rd postseason hit, matching Tanner Townsend for the most in RailCats playoff history ... Cogan pitched twice against the T-Bones in the Championship Series last season and lost both starts with an ERA over 11 ... the RailCats improve to 21-17 all-time in the postseason with the win and have never lost an Opening Round series ... Marconi had only five hits in 38 at bats in the postseason in 2008, his first year with the RailCats.
Northern League Stories from September 2, 2009
- RailCats Come Back Late to Beat T-Bones 4-3 in Game One - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Gary Battles Back for Game One Victory - Kansas City Monarchs
- RedHawks Drop Playoff Opener 7-3 - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Ferro Steps up to the Plate - Joliet JackHammers
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