NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Fall to Joliet 5-1

Published on July 13, 2007 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


Joliet, Ill.-Matt Smith scattered six hits and walked no one over a nine inning complete game performance as the Joliet JackHammers topped the Gary SouthShore RailCats 5-1 on Friday night at Silver Cross Field before a crowd of 5,218. The two clubs have split the first two games of the second half.

Smith was rarely in trouble as he improved his record to 3-4. He struck out only two batters but was touched for only one run, a solo home run by Nate Price, in his first complete game of the season.

Joliet took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, getting three singles from Chad Ehrnsberger, Dennis Blackmon, and Chris Brown, before Anthony Monegan's sacrifice fly to right brought in Ehrnsberger. The added another run in the fourth on a solo home run by Blackmon, his eighth homer of the year, to make it 2-0, and then tacked on another run in the sixth on an RBI ground out by Kevin Sullivan.

Meanwhile, the RailCats had only two chances through the first six innings. They loaded the bases in the fourth with one out but Smith got Tanner Townsend to pop to second and then got Jermaine Allensworth to ground to third to end the threat. In the sixth, the RailCats had men at first and third with one out, but Jose Yepez grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Price's home run to right finally got the RailCats on the board in the seventh to make it 3-1, but Joliet answered with two runs in the eighth off RailCats reliever David Byard to go ahead 5-1. Juan Diaz's RBI double keyed the inning. The RailCats did not seriously threaten over the final two innings against Smith.

The RailCats will meet the JackHammers on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Silver Cross Field. Willie Glen (6-0, 3.93) will start for Gary against Joliet's Nate Sevier (7-1, 3.46). The RailCats return home on Monday night to open a seven game homestand through Sunday, July 22nd.

Notes: Townsend extended his hitting streak to nine straight games...Over the RailCats last 21 games, they are 9-0 when they score at least five runs but 1-11 when scoring four runs or less.

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Northern League Stories from July 13, 2007


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