NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Score Two in Ninth, Stun Goldeyes for 5-4 Win

Published on July 5, 2009 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - For the second night in a row, the Gary SouthShore RailCats scored two last at bat runs to come-from-behind to beat the Winnipeg Goldeyes, completing their largest comeback of the season Sunday afternoon with a 5-4 victory at U. S. Steel Yard.

Trailing 4-0 after the top of the second inning, the RailCats got a run in the eighth to pull within 4-3 and beat Winnipeg closer Matt Davis for the second day in a row in the ninth. Mike Rohde led off the inning with a solid single, went to second when Anthony Esquer moved him on a hit-and-run groundout, and scored when Rob Marconi lined a breaking ball into left-center. Davis would be pulled after Marconi's hit and was replaced by left-hander Aaron Odom.

Mike Massaro was the first man to hit against Odom and worked a full count. On the 3-2 pitch, Massaro was called out on strike three with Marconi running from first. Catcher Jeff DeSmidt's throw sailed into center and centerfielder Cory Patton had the ball go under his bare hand allowing Marconi to race all the way in from first with the game-winning run. Marconi was credited with a stolen base on the play and both DeSmidt and Patton were charged with errors.

The win brought the RailCats over .500 for the first time since May 25 and completed a sensational 7-2 homestand. The series win was the first for the ‘Cats over the Goldeyes this year and only the fourth series loss for league-leading Winnipeg. The RailCats finish the first half of the season with a 17-8 home record, the best among all Northern League teams, and have now won 13 of their last 16 games at U. S. Steel Yard.

The Goldeyes picked up all four of their runs in the top of the second inning against starter Tom Thornton, who allowed two-run doubles to both DeSmidt and Kevin West. The RailCats slowly chipped away the rest of the afternoon, however, getting two-out RBIs in the second, fourth and eighth innings from Anthony Esquer, Rohde and Jordan Czarniecki, respectively.

Ace Walker started for Winnipeg and allowed three earned runs in 7.2 innings, just the second time in nine starts this season that Walker has allowed more than one earned run. Walker walked three, struck out one and did not earn a decision. Davis was the losing pitcher for the second straight day.

Garret Holleran followed up a five-inning start from Thornton with three scoreless innings of relief, allowing only two hits and striking out two. Holleran has not allowed a run in 5.0 innings in his first two appearances of 2009 after being activated on July 1. Aaron Cook (1-3) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth to pick up his first win.

The RailCats collected 10 hits in the game, getting two each from Jay Pecci, Czarniecki and Rohde. West, DeSmidt and Cody Ehlers each had two of Winnipeg's eight hits.

The RailCats (24-23) and Goldeyes (28-15) will rest for the next four days as the Northern League breaks for Tuesday's All-Star Game in Joliet. The two teams will meet again for a three-game series immediately following the break, beginning Friday July 10 at 7 p.m. in Winnipeg.

Notes: The RailCats won three of the last four games of the homestand in walk-off fashion - July 2, 4 and 5 ... four of the RailCats seven wins on their homestand came in their last at bat ... the RailCats comeback from four runs down marked their largest deficit conquered in 2009 ... Thornton got a no-decision and has not lost since June 9, a span of five starts ... the RailCats and Goldeyes are the only two teams in the Northern League that reach the All-Star Break with over .500 records.

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Northern League Stories from July 5, 2009


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