NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

Railcats drop slugfest

Published on July 1, 2008 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - The Winnipeg Goldeyes used a couple of five-run innings to slug their way to a 15-11 win over the Gary SouthShore RailCats Tuesday night in the first game of a three-game series at U. S. Steel Yard.

The game featured 26 runs and 33 hits, and saw the visitors score more runs (15) and collect more hits (18) than any RailCats opponent this season. The loss snapped the RailCats' season-long four-game winning streak and pushed the Goldeyes within a half-game of the Northern League-leading ‘Cats.

Ahead 10-7 in the sixth inning, RailCats reliever Brian Halford got the first two outs before the Goldeyes erupted for five two-out runs. Halford left the game with the score 10-9, but Matt Brinkmann's third pitch was launched onto Fourth Avenue by Kevin West for a three-run homer, giving the Goldeyes a 12-10 lead they would not relinquish.

The RailCats took their first lead in the bottom of the first inning when Jay Pecci cracked a two-run home run deep into the seats in right field. The switch-hitting Pecci's homer was his career-high fifth of the year - matching his total from last season - but first this season from the right side of the plate. The RailCats added to their lead in the second when Mike Rohde singled home Eric Blakeley.

Winnipeg's first five-run inning answered the RailCats second. Starter Billy Phillips got two quick outs after Max Poulin's leadoff single in the third, but the Goldeyes put together a long two-out rally. Four straight hits scored the five runs, with Tydus Meadows, West, Antoin Gray and Jamar Hill collecting the RBIs.

Another Goldeye run in the fourth made the score 7-3, but the RailCats turned the scoreboard around again in the bottom of the inning. The RailCats scored six times in the frame, chasing starter Ace Walker from the game with one out, and building a two-run advantage. Ten men batted in the fourth, with Mike Reese's two-run double the big blow. Pecci, Blakeley, Rob Marconi and Cristian Guerrero also had RBI hits.

The RailCats built their lead to 10-7 on another Reese RBI hit in the fifth, but Winnipeg's Brian Beuning came on to start the next inning and shut the RailCats down. Beuning - appearing in his Northern League high 27th game of the year - went four strong innings out of the bullpen, allowing only three hits and an unearned run. By finishing the game, Beuning earned his fourth save of the season.

Winnipeg's top five hitters did most of the damage Tuesday, with Fehlandt Lentini, Demetrius Heath, Metheny, Meadows and West combining to bang out 14 hits and drive in 13 runs. Heath went 5-for-6 and scored four runs, Metheny went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and West drove in four runs of his own. Ryan Ariail (3-1) allowed two runs in 1.2 innings but picked up the win.

Halford (4-1) took the loss out of the RailCats bullpen, a unit that allowed eight runs Tuesday. Garret Holleran was the only RailCats pitcher who did not allow a run, working two full innings. Billy Phillips started the game and allowed seven earned runs in five innings.

The RailCats (24-18) and Goldeyes (24-19) will rematch Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard. Northern League All-Star Kai Tuomi (2-1, 4.33 ERA) will go for the RailCats against Winnipeg's Bear Bay (3-3, 5.98). That game, as always, will be broadcast live on WEFM, 95.9 FM, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com .

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Northern League Stories from July 1, 2008


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