RailCats Rally Late to Hold Wild Card Lead
August 23, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
St. Paul, MN - The RailCats rallied back from a seventh inning deficit to beat the St. Paul Saints 12-6 on Friday night. With the victory, Gary SouthShore improved to 51-39 and St. Paul dropped to 45-46. With Winnipeg's victory, the RailCats hold a 1.5 game lead in the American Association wild card chase.
In the top of the eighth, Zac Mitchell pinch hit for Ryan Brockett and doubled down the left field line to leadoff the inning. Danny Pulfer then bunted him to third and Adam Klein grounded out to second. Mike Massaro worked a 3-0 count before being intentionally walked by Mikey Melich and Brian Kolb brought the tying run home with a fielder's choice.
Saints shortstop Adam Frost opted to go to second on Kolb's slow roller but Massaro made it to second before the throw.
Then the flood gates opened for the RailCats offense. Reid Fronk pounded a ground ruled double to left and Cristian Guerrero followed him with a two-run single to take a 9-6 lead for the RailCats against Mehlich.
In the top of the ninth, the RailCats added three more on an RBI single by Danny Pulfer, an RBI triple by Mike Massaro and an RBI single by Nick Liles to give them the 12-6 lead.
Ian Durham pitched a scoreless ninth to finish off the ball game.
The RailCats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, Ryan Brockett drew a four-pitch walk against Cole Nelson to load the bases. Danny Pulfer then muscled a base hit to centerfield to score Reid Fronk and Cristian Guerrero. Pulfer has driven in three in his first four at-bats since returning from the disabled list.
In the third, the RailCats continued to run all over Saints catcher Jeremy Mayo. Brian Kolb singled to begin the inning and promptly stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Reid Fronk then muscled a single into left to score Kolb. Fronk then stole second then took third on the next pitch and scored on a throwing error by Mayo.
Cole Nelson was removed after three innings as he battled command problems. He walked three and threw a pair of wild pitches as the RailCats tagged him for four runs on seven hits.
Adam Klein led off the fourth inning with his league-leading 71st walk of the season and came around to score when Mike Massaro pounded a triple to center. Massaro's triple was his league-leading 15th of the season and gave the 'Cats a 5-0 lead.
St. Paul broke through against Morgan Coombs when they loaded the bases with back-to-back infield singles in the fourth. Jeremy Mayo lifted a base hit to left to score a pair and give the Saints their first runs since Tuesday. They were shutout in each of their last three games against Winnipeg during the week.
The Saints knocked Coombs from the game in the bottom of the fifth when the first four hitters of the inning. Brian Burgamy doubled home Dan Kaczrowski and Willie Cabrera reached on a fielder's choice on a controversial play at third base. Brian Kolb's tag of Burgamy looked to be in time for the first out of the inning but was ruled safe.
Then Jose Hernandez hit a fly ball to center that Drew Martinez dropped on the warning track scoring Brandon Tripp and Burgamy to tie the game at five.
Coombs was removed from the game for Will Krout, just re-signed by the RailCats earlier this afternoon, with runners on second and third. Krout struck out a pair and retired Andy Henkeymeyer on fielder's choice to keep the Saints from taking the lead. Krout retired the first two he faced in the sixth before being lifted for Estevan Uriegas.
Coombs took a no-decision and allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks. He struck out four and threw 88 pitches.
The Saints took the lead briefly in the seventh inning when Willie Cabrera hit a solo home run off of Estevan Uriegas.
The RailCats offense rallied against Mikey Melich in the eighth to pick up Uriegas and poured it on in the ninth against Kyle Morrison.
Uriegas earned his second win of the season despite allowing the tie-breaking homer to Cabrera.
The RailCats set a season-high with six stolen bases and Mike Massaro tripled twice in the game to take the league-lead with his 16th of the season.
The RailCats continue their three-game series with the Saints on Saturday night. The Saints will send RHP Mark Hamburger (6-6, 3.29 ERA) the RailCats send RHP Stephen Hiscock (2-2, 3.75 ERA).
Listen live to the RailCats and Saints beginning at 7:00 p.m. on 89.1 FM The Lakeshore and RailCatsBaseball.com.
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