AA Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Fall in 9th to Wingnuts

August 22, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


Gary, IN - The RailCats took a heartbreaking loss to Wichita on Thursday afternoon dropping a 5-4 decision despite carrying a 4-2 lead into the ninth inning. Gary SouthShore is now 50-39 on the season, Wichita trimmed their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to one and improved to 60-30 on the year.

Leading 4-2, Ian Durham struck out each of the first two batters he faced in the inning on a total of six pitches. Then Ryan Khoury worked a five-pitch walk and moved to third when Jake Kahaulelio doubled off the wall in left. John Rodriguez then muscled a base hit to right to score the tying run and moved to second on the throw home.

CJ Ziegler then singled to center to score the winning run for the Wingnuts as Josh Dew entered to try to close the game.

Jake Kahaulelio booted a ground ball off the bat of Brian Kolb to leadoff the inning; opening the door for a RailCats rally in the bottom of the ninth. Ryan Babineau then drew a walk to put the winning run on first.

Closer Josh Dew settled down after that and struck out Cristian Guerrero for the first out and got Christian Vitters to fly out to center for the second out. Drew Martinez then grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game.

The RailCats jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Adam Klein greeted Wingnuts starter Anthony Capra with a leadoff double and moved to third on a Mike Massaro single. A fielders choice by Brian Kolb moved Massaro to second and Ryan Babineau walked to load the bases.

Cristian Guerrero punched a base hit to center to score Klein and Danny Pulfer singled through the right side to take a 2-0 lead. With two outs, Ryan Brockett delivered a pair of runs with a single to right to take the early advantage.

Billy Spottiswood settled in after stranding the bases loaded in the second inning. He retired nine in a row after Jake Kahaulelio was hit by a pitch (setting the American Association record with 21) in the third inning before John Rodriguez dropped a base hit into shallow right.

Billy got Johnny Bowden to ground out to end the sixth inning with the bases loaded and keep the 4-0 lead for the ‘Cats.

In the seventh, the Wingnuts rallied to knock Billy from the ball game. David Amberson walked to begin the inning then Jared McDonald and Ryan Khoury each singled to load the bases. Spottiswood was removed for Kyle Lindquist with the bases loaded and nobody out.

Jake Kahaulelio and John Rodriguez each reached on a fielder's choice to make it 4-2 and Ryan Babineau caught Rodriguez stealing to end the inning.

Billy Spottiswood took a no-decision despite throwing his sixth quality start of the season. In six innings he allowed a pair of runs on five hits and four walks.

Kyle Lindquist threw two scoreless innings to set up Ian Durham's ninth inning on the mound.

The RailCats won the season series with Wichita 7-6, but, split the four-game series this week at U. S. Steel Yard. The Wingnuts are now one game away from clinching a playoff spot and the RailCats hold a two game lead in the Wild Card heading into Thursday night's action.

Thursday was the RailCats first loss of the season when leading after seven or eight innings and it was Ian Durham's first blown save of the year.

The RailCats head to St. Paul for a three-game series with the Saints beginning on Friday night. The Saints will send LHP Cole Nelson (5-2, 2.51 ERA) the RailCats send RHP Morgan Coombs (5-2, 4.78 ERA).

Listen live to the RailCats and Saints beginning at 7:00 p.m. on 89.1 FM The Lakeshore and RailCatsBaseball.com.

Check out the Gary SouthShore Railcats Statistics



American Association Stories from August 22, 2013


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