RailCats Rally to Split Doubleheader with Schaumburg
Published on August 12, 2003 under American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
SCHAUMBURG, IL - The first doubleheader in Gary SouthShore RailCats history turned out to have an ironic twist.
Scheduled, under minor league rules governing doubleheaders, to play two seven-inning games, the RailCats and the Schaumburg Flyers split a pair of nine-inning, extra-inning affairs at Alexian Field. Both teams scored in unanswered fashion, as the Flyers rallied from a 2-0 deficit to nip the RailCats 3-2 in the first game before the RailCats bounced back from 4-0 hole to salvage a split of the twin-bill with a 6-4 victory in the nightcap.
The doubleheader took more than six hours to play from start to finish. The games were also the fifth and sixth extra-inning affairs in 14 head-to-head meetings between the RailCats and the Flyers this season.
Mario Delgado's two-run homer in the fourth inning of game one, off RailCats starter Tim Byrdak, erased a 2-0 RailCats lead. The Flyers eventually won the game in the ninth against reliever jake Upwood on a leadoff walk, a single, a fielder's choice, and a game-winning sacrifice fly by Brant Brown.
The Flyers scored the first four runs in the nightcap, plating one in the first and three in third off RailCats rookie starter Chris Andel .. T. J. Staton drove in the first run with an RBI-single, and fueled the third-inning rally with a two-out single that Brant Brown followed with an RBI-double. Brown later scored on a wild pitch.
The RailCats scored in two runs apiece in three of their final at-bats to rally for the win. The RailCats plated two unearned runs in the sixth when, with two outs, Billy Brown reached on an error. Wes Chamberlain hit an infield single, Sean Murphy hit an RBI-single to right to score Brown and send Chamberlain to third. Tim Flaherty nearly put the RailCats ahead with a long drive down the left field line that hooked foul at the last moment, before drawing a walk on a 3-2 pitch. Flyers' pitcher Dusty Keppen's ball four pitch was wild, scoring Chamberlain.
The RailCats tied the game in the seventh against reliever Brett Weber, who was charged with a blown save. Garry Templeton II singled to right field and scored on Nick Gontmaher's RBI-triple into the right-center field gap. Flyers outfielders Ben Van Iderstine and Eric Goerdt collided on the play, and 2B Chris Olson's long relay throw toward third sailed into the left-field stands, allowing Gontmaher to score on the error.
In the ninth, Templeton led off with a bunt single, advanced to second on Gontmaher's sacrifice, to third on a wild pitch, and, after a walk to Digz Edwards to set up a potential double play, scored on Billy Brown's opposite field single. Edwards went to third on the hit, Brown's third of the game, and scored when Chamberlain hit a slow bouncer to second on which Chamberlain was able to beat the relay to first for an RBI-fielder's choice.
Brian Houdek picked up the win in relief for the RailCats, pitching three scoreless and hitless innings, striking out six of the ten batters he faced. Benji Miller converted his first save chance since July 16th, getting the final three outs for his 10th save of the season.
The RailCats (12-15 second half, 27-45 overall) continue the four-game series in Shcaumburg with a 7:05 p.m. game Tuesday. Tuesday's game can be heard on the RailCats Radio Network (on WEFM 95.9 fm, the Region Sports Network on 1230 am, and www.sportsjuice.com) beginning at 6:45 p.m.
American Association Stories from August 12, 2003
- Aviators Rally Late, but Not Enough, as Edinburgh Wins 7-6 - Coastal Bend Aviators
- Dobson, Gregg combine on 1-hitter, Pelicans split with Wings again - Pensacola Pelicans
- Damon's to host Pelican pre-playoff party Thursday - Pensacola Pelicans
- Merrigan Pitches Canaries Past T-Bones - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Joliet Hammers RedHawks 9-3 - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- X's fall by one to Saltdogs - Sioux City Explorers
- Pelican Post - Pensacola Pelicans
- RailCats Rally to Split Doubleheader with Schaumburg - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Aviators Add to Lead, Beat Edinburg, 2-1 - Coastal Bend Aviators
- Pelicans to host entire first round at home - Pensacola Pelicans
- Early outburst helps Pelicans salvage doubleheader split - Pensacola Pelicans
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