NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Sweep Doubleheader in Joliet

Published on May 23, 2004 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


JOLIET, IL - The Gary SouthShore RailCats earned the first doubleheader sweep in team history, downing the Joliet JackHammers by scores of 7-4 (in eight innings) and 5-1 Sunday at Silver Cross Field.

Joliet first baseman Jason Kinchen's grand slam in the third inning of game one put the JackHammers ahead 4-1, but the RailCats answered back in the top of the fourth when Mike Stoner scored after Curt Lee's chopper to first bounced off Kinchen's glove and towards the JackHammers bullpen.

In the sixth, Mike Brown hit a two-run home run to right off Joliet reliever Doug Young, tying the game at 4-4.

The JackHammers loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, but RailCats reliever Benji Miller induced Joliet's Josh Loggins to ground into an inning ending double play.

When the two teams failed to score in the seventh and final regulation inning, the RailCats struck in the eighth. After Eric Welsh singled with one out and Stoner flied out, Mike Brown reached on an error and Curt Lee delivered a two-out RBI single to plate the go-ahead run. Dominic Woody then smashed a two-run triple to put the RailCats ahead by three.

Miller (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the RailCats and Chris Andel pitched the eighth for his second save. Young (0-1) suffered the loss for Joliet.

The RailCats jumped in front early in the second game, scoring four unearned runs in the third courtesy of two JackHammers errors. Stoner delivered the big blow, a two-out double scoring Billy Brown.

Rich Rodrigues continued to swing a hot bat, driving in the team's fifth run with a single in the fourth. The RailCats catcher batted 5-for-10 in the series.

RailCats starter Dan Soria (1-0) pitched five strong innings, allowing only a Kinchen homer leading off the sixth. The East Chicago native struck out four and walked only two, scattering eight hits. JackHammers starter Steve Hecker (0-1) gave up all five runs and suffered the loss.

The RailCats open their second home season at U. S. Steel Yard on Monday, when they host the Lincoln Saltdogs at 7 p.m. Tickets for the game are still available and can be purchased at www.railcatsbaseball.com or at the U. S. Steel Yard box office. The game can also be heard on the RailCats Radio Network (WJOB AM 1230 and WEFM 95.9) and sportsjuice.com.

Check out the Gary SouthShore Railcats Statistics

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Northern League Stories from May 23, 2004


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