NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Sweep Flyers as Cogan Sets Scoreless Inning Record

Published on July 22, 2009 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - Tony Cogan's franchise-record 28.2 inning scoreless streak lasted into the eighth inning Wednesday night as the Gary SouthShore RailCats finished off a sweep of a day-night doubleheader by beating the Schaumburg Flyers 5-2 at Alexian Field.

The ‘Cats won both games of the twinbill by identical scores and guaranteed themselves at least a share of the Northern League lead when they open a three-game series this weekend against the Winnipeg Goldeyes. The RailCats won the three of the four games at Alexian Field over the Flyers to win their seventh series in a row and improve to 16-3 in the month of July.

Cogan (6-5) brought a 21.0 inning scoreless streak into Wednesday's nightcap and went immediately to work against the Flyers hitters. The left-hander worked with runners on base in each of the first four innings but did not allow any of those runners past second base. Cogan broke Josh Habel's club record when he got Felix Jose to fly out for the second out in the fourth and did not stop there, getting the side in order in the fifth and seventh.

The Flyers finally broke through against Cogan in the eighth when Travis Brown singled with one out and went to second on a Jeff Beachum error. The runners moved up on a wild pitch and Brown came in to score when Vince Harrison grounded out third to bring Brown home with an unearned run.

In four starts since the All-Star Break, Cogan is 3-0 and has allowed only two runs (one earned) in 32.0 innings, good for a 0.28 ERA. The Stanford grad has allowed only 16 hits and six walks in those 32.0 innings, striking out 21. Cogan was named the Northern League's Pitcher of the Week on Monday.

The RailCats did their scoring in pieces, getting single runs in the third, fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth. The ‘Cats scored three times against Schaumburg starter Carmen Pignatiello (4-7), who was working on short rest, beginning in the third when Mike Massaro drove home Rob Marconi with a single to right. Anthony Esquer picked up an RBI hit in the fourth and Jordan Czarniecki plated another in the fifth on a sacrifice fly.

The RailCats collected 14 hits in the game, getting three each from Massaro and Jay Pecci. Jeff Beachum notched the ‘Cats only extra-base hit, a run-scoring double in the seventh.

Schaumburg added a run in the ninth when Jose Valdez hit a home run against Grant Johnson. Richard Mercado was the only Flyer with more than one hit, going 2-for-4.

The RailCats (36-25) head up to Winnipeg (33-23) next for a weekend series against the Goldeyes beginning Friday night at 7 p.m. at Canwest Park. The RailCats will send Northern League ERA leader Chris Jones (4-1, 2.83 ERA) to the hill in the opener, and that game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Notes: The RailCats won four of six games between the two clubs at Alexian Field this year, with Wednesday's games marking the RailCats final trip in of the season ... the RailCats 10-2 overall against the Flyers ... the RailCats have won three consecutive road games for the third time this season. The ‘Cats have not won four straight road games at any point ... Cogan's start lowered his ERA to 3.52 on the season. His ERA at the All-Star Break was 5.05.

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Northern League Stories from July 22, 2009


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