NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Snap Fargo's 10-Game Win Streak, Down RedHawks 8-

August 22, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


FARGO, N.D. - Jordan Czarniecki finished a triple short of the cycle and Derell McCall gutted out 5.2 solid innings as the Gary SouthShore RailCats beat the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 8-2 Saturday night at Newman Outdoor Field, snapping the hosts' 10-game winning streak and reclaiming a share of first place.

The RailCats won in Fargo for the first time since May 17 as McCall (6-0) made a three-run RailCats second inning stand up despite constant pressure from the league's top-ranked offense. McCall stranded RedHawks in scoring position in five different innings and allowed only two runs despite seven hits and three walks compiled against him. McCall won for the sixth time in seven starts thanks to a bullpen that retired 10 straight to end the game and an offense that tattooed Fargo's relievers for five insurance runs.

Czarniecki and Chris Carrara each had three hit days for the ‘Cats, hitting seventh and ninth, respectively, in the order. Both men had three RBI but Czarniecki got his with a little more flair, doubling home a run in the three-run second and blasting his sixth home run of the year, a two-run shot, in the seventh. Carrara collected the triple Czarniecki needed in the eighth inning but it was the only one of his three hits that did not produce a run.

Cristian Guerrero started the RailCats three run second by drawing a walk against Broc Coffman (9-6). After moving to second on a wild pitch and third on a groundout, Guerrero walked home on Czarniecki's ground-rule double to left-center. Rob Marconi walked next before Carrara drove Czarniecki in from second with a ground ball off Coffman's glove that ended up in shallow left. Marconi would later score on a fielder's choice groundout.

Fargo got single runs in the first and third, but the game was still 3-2 RailCats into the sixth. Yosandy Ibanez replaced Coffman in the fourth and struck out two, but in the fifth Czarniecki rapped a leadoff hit to right and went to third when Marconi's bunt was first misplayed by Ibanez - who threw wildly towards second - and then centerfielder Nic Jackson - who threw the ball away towards third. Two errors were charged on the play and Carrara cashed both runs in with a single to right.

The RailCats win ended Fargo's league-best 10-game win streak and snapped a seven-game losing streak for the RailCats in Fargo. The ‘Cats are the first team in the Northern League to 52 wins and are in a virtual tie with the RedHawks for the league lead, with both teams two games ahead of third-place Winnipeg.

The RailCats out-hit the RedHawks 13-7 and had all nine starters reach base at least once. Jeff Beachum went 2-for-5 and had the only multi-hit game for the ‘Cats outside of Czarniecki and Carrara. Kyle Heyne came on in the sixth with a runner on and got Mike Coles to line out to center, then retired the side in the seventh and eighth in relief of McCall. Andy Shipman struck out the side in order in the ninth in a non-save situation.

Jackson and Carlo Cota each had two hits for Fargo. Zach Weber pitched two innings of relief and allowed his first three runs of the season, including Czarniecki's two-run homer.

The RailCats (52-36) and RedHawks (51-35) close out their three-game series Sunday night at 6 p.m. The ‘Cats will send right-hander Garret Holleran (3-2, 3.36 ERA) to the bump against Fargo righty Garry Bakker (7-5, 5.79 ERA). The game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

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Northern League Stories from August 22, 2009


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