RailCats Hold on for the Win in Sioux City
Published on July 1, 2016 under American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
SIOUX CITY, IA - The Gary SouthShore RailCats crossed the US Canada border in the wee hours of Friday morning having "found a way to win" in Winnipeg Thursday night. Back stateside when Friday night rolled around for the second straight night the RailCats "found a way to win" . The Cats behind a great starting performance from Richard Castillo and some late inning drama held on to a 3-2 win over the Sioux City Explores at Mercy Field at Lewis and Clark Park.
The RailCats took the field in the bottom of the ninth with a pair a huge insurance runs from the bat of Mike Falsetti to make it 3-0 with Sioux City down to their last three outs. Taylor Black came into the game for the RailCats to work the ninth and immediately gave up a single to Matty Johnson of Sioux City.
The next batter Michael Lang hit into a fielder's choice forcing out Johnson at second for out number one. Nate Johnson followed with a single to right to put runners at first and second. Black then worked the count to a ball and a strike to Jarek Cunningham before hitting the X's second baseman to load the bases. Tim Colwell then hit a fly to shallow left toward the left field line for out number two.
With the X's down to their last hope Ralph Henriquez drove a 2-2 pitch to right to score Lang and Johnson and it was 3-2 game. On the play Sioux City was able to get Colwell to third for the tying run with the winning run on first. Black then got Matt Koch to fly out on the second pitch he saw to right field with Tillman Pugh making the play on the run half way down the right field line.
Richard Castillo (3-1) was terrific for the SouthShore going seven shutout innings before giving way to Santiago Rodriguez in the eighth. Castillo scattered four hits with a walk and a strike out on the night to pick up the win. The righty gave up a leadoff single in the sixth then finished strong retiring the next six batters he faced.
Sioux City starter Ryan Zimmerman was charged with the loss dropping to (2-6). Zimmerman, who is having a down year after setting the Sioux City franchise low ERA mark in 2015 with a 1.80, looked more like the 2015 version of himself rather than the 2016 version for most of the night. Sporting a 7.30 ERA this season the RailCats could only score one run off of Zimmerman early on.
In the top of the third Jared Mederos and Alex Crosby led off the inning with back to back singles putting runners at the corners. Matt Petrone then brought Mederos home with a fielder's choice RBI to make it 1-0. Zimmerman would go on to toss 139 pitches on the night and nearly escaped the eighth unscathed until Mike Falsetti delivered for the RailCats.
Brennan Metzger walked with one out and Tillman Pugh fell down in the count 0-2 but worked another key walk to put runners at first and second. Zimmerman was able to strike out Frank Martinez but he walked Jeremy Hamilton to load the bases.
Mike Falsetti also fell down in the count 0-2 before working the count even. The Chicagoland native then drove a 2-2 pitch up the middle to score Mederos and Pugh which turned out to be two big insurance runs with two outs to make it 3-0.
The RailCats extended their winning streak to two games and they won for the eighth time in the last 10 and now are a season high six games above .500 at 23-17. Since the RailCats embarked on a nine game road trip beginning on July 14th the club has gone 12 and 4. The team has also won five straight series in a current stretch where they will have played 15 of 18 games away from US Steel Yard when this three game series ends on Sunday.
Game two of the series is Saturday night in Sioux City with RHP Karl Triana (2-3, 3.93) set to go for the RailCats and RHP Bryan Escanio (1-1, 8.25) going for the X's. First pitch from Lewis and Clark Park is scheduled for 7:00pm with the game broadcast locally on 95.9 WEFM and online world wide on RailCatsBaseball.com with the pregame to begin at 6:40.
The RailCats return home for a six game home stand Monday July 4th at US Steel Yard with the first game of a three game series against the Winnipeg Goldeyes. For ticket information call (219) 882-2255 or visit the RailCats online.
American Association Stories from July 1, 2016
- Home Runs Doom Blasters in Loss to Wichita - Joplin Blasters
- RailCats Hold on for the Win in Sioux City - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- AirHogs Drop Heartbreaker in Laredo Opener - Texas AirHogs
- Canaries Fall to Goldeyes 8-1 on Canada Day - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Mazzola, Herron Sweep League Awards for June - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Homer Happy Wingnuts Cruise in Joplin - Wichita Wingnuts
- Veglahn Impresses in First Pro Start, But Outdone by Former Major Leaguer in 5-1 Loss - St. Paul Saints
- O'Brien, Bats Lead Goldeyes on Canada Day - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- McKenzie Mows Down 'Hawks in Series Opener - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Veteran Lefty Set to Join Bullpen - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Mazzola, Herron Sweep League Awards for June - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Wichita Takes 12-Inning Series Finale - Texas AirHogs
- Kussmaul Has Contract Purchased by Diamondbacks - Wichita Wingnuts
- X's Win Another Extra-Inning Contest In Fargo - Sioux City Explorers
- RailCats Mount Comeback to Take Series in Canada - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- 'Hawks Fall in Eleven Innings - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Blasters Drop Series Finale; Swept by Laredo - Joplin Blasters
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