AA Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Earn Wild Card with 7-4 over El Paso

August 31, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


Gary, IN - The RailCats clinched a postseason berth for the first time since 2010 with a 7-4 victory over El Paso on Saturday night. Gary SouthShore earned the wild card and will take on the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks, at Fargo, when the American Association playoffs begin on Wednesday, September 4.

Saturday's game was a nailbiter as El Paso scored first and refused to go quietly in the late innings, however, the RailCats bullpen shut down a rally in each the sixth and eighth innings.

For the first time in five games, the RailCats opponent scored the game's first run. El Paso took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly from Anthony D'Alfonso.

The RailCats rallied for three runs when they loaded the bases with singles from Ryan Babineau and Brian Kolb off Diablos starter Jesse Estrada. Danny Pulfer tied the game at one with an RBI single and Adam Klein drove in a pair with a two-run single to right to take a 3-1 RailCats advantage.

El Paso cut the lead in half in the top of the sixth after a pair of walks by Billy Spottiswood to begin the inning. Anthony D'Alfonso flew out to center for the first out of the inning then Juan Apodaca singled to center to score Oscar Mesa and make it 3-2.

Spottiswood was removed from the game with two outs in the sixth for Will Krout; who got Gabriel Suarez to fly out to end the inning.

Billy earned his sixth win as a RailCat despite failing to complete six innings for the first time since July 6 against Fargo. He allowed two runs on six hits and three walks.

The RailCats picked up insurance runs in each the sixth and seventh. In the sixth, Brian Kolb led off with a double and moved to the third on a bunt by Drew Martinez. Danny Pulfer drove in his second run of the game with an RBI single to center to make it 4-2.

In the seventh Mike Massaro doubled to leadoff the inning and Cristian Guerrero reached on an error at third to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Ryan Babineau singled to left to extend the 'Cats lead to 5-2..

El Paso responded to Babineau's RBI by getting their first two batters on in the top of the eighth. Anthony D'Alfonso grounded out to short to score Oscar Mesa to make it 5-3.

Juan Apodaca drew a walk to put runners on the corners but was picked off by RailCats reliever Matt Jernstad for the second out in the eighth inning. The next batter, Sergio Burruel, doubled to center to drive in Wellington Dotel and bring the Diablos within one. Jernstad was replaced by Ian Durham who stranded the tying run at second on one pitch to end the inning. Durham finished off the game with a scoreless ninth inning for his ninth save of the season.

Six different RailCats had multi-hit games, as the RailCats had 10 or more hits eighth time in their last 10 games, led by Danny Pulfer who had three.

The RailCats continue their three game series with El Paso tomorrow at 2:10 p.m. RHP Morgan Coombs (6-2, 5.09 ERA) will throw for the RailCats, RHP Kevin Cooper (3-5, 6.00 ERA) will throw for the Diablos. Listen live to the RailCats and Diablos beginning at 2:00 p.m. on 89.1 FM The Lakeshore and Railcats Baseball.com.

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American Association Stories from August 31, 2013


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