RailCats Sweep Roadtrip with Marathon Victory
Published on July 20, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
FT. WORTH, Tex. - The Gary SouthShore RailCats swept a six-game swing through the South Division by winning a 15-inning marathon over the Ft. Worth Cats 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Nolan Nicholson made his first start in over a week for the RailCats and was masterful in the contest, carrying a shutout into the sixth before Ft. Worth scored an unearned run. Nicholson exited after consecutive singles from Marcos Rodriguez and Ryan Patterson. An error opened the door for Butch Ballez to put Ft. Worth ahead with an RBI groundout. James Baker avoided further damage in the frame. Nicholson allowed just the unearned run on five hits while striking out four.
The lead for the Cats marked the first time on the roadtrip that the RailCats had fallen behind, and the first time the RailCats did not open the scoring in 11 contetsts. Ft. Worth starter Will Calhoun was equally as strong, baffling the RailCats with six shutout innings. Calhoun walked three and struck out six while allowing just one runner to reach third.
The RailCats were able to tie the game in the top of the eighth against the Ft. Worth bullpen. Cristian Guerrero opened the inning with a single to right and scored from first when Craig Maddox lined a double into the right field corner. Pinch runner Mike Valadez was stranded at second in the eighth while Lorenzo Scott was left at third in the ninth as the RailCats squandered a pair of attempts to win the game in regulation.
The contest remained even through the 12th. The RailCats finally broke through in the top of the 13th. Valadez led off the inning by drawing a walk. Mike Rohde followed with a two-strike single to left before both runners were moved up on a sacrifice. Chris Carrara handed the RailCats the lead for the first time with a rocket up the first base line past the drawn in infield, scoring both runners to hand the RailCats a 3-1 edge.
Ft. Worth found a way to tie the score in the bottom of the inning with two outs, sending eight men to the plate. Patterson and John Allen singled against reliever Brian Grening, the final reliever available to the team. Starter Jack Frawley entered for his first relief appearance of the season and surrendered a two-out double to Jeremy Sauceda to tie the score.
Carrara came through again in the top of the 15th for the RailCats, who were able to hold on to the lead this time for the victory. Valadez opened with a walk and moved to second on a throwing error. Kyle Haines drew an intentional walk to bring up Carrara, who flared a single into right to put the RailCats in front. Haines scored later on a wild pitch to account for the final. Frawley earned the win in relief. The right-hander had not won a game since June 4.
The extra-inning contest was the first for the RailCats since June 21, a 3-2 10-inning decision over Fargo-Moorhead. The RailCats have played more extra-inning contests than any other team in the American Association and are now 8-2 in those contests. With a Wichita loss, the RailCats now hold a four game lead atop the Central Division, their largest of the season, and are 12 games over the .500 mark at 38-26, also the highest tally of the year. Eight pitchers appeared in the win.
The Gary SouthShore RailCats return home on Friday to open a six-game homestand against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at 7:10 p.m. RHP Scott Shaw (7-3, 4.62) is the scheduled starter for the RailCats opposite LHP Jake Laber (8-3, 2.41).
Fans will have two chances to catch the best fireworks show in Northwest Indiana this weekend with the addition of a very special Christmas-themed Fireworks Spectacular on Dollar Monday, July 25, exactly five months before the real thing.
American Association Stories from July 20, 2011
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- RedHawks Win Shootout, 15-8 - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- RailCats Sweep Roadtrip with Marathon Victory - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Ka'aihue's Walk-Off Single Gives T-Bones Fourth Straight Win - Kansas City Monarchs
- Big Seventh Inning Propels Goldeyes to Win - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Rodriguez Dazzles, Cowart's Late RBI Gives Captains 3-2 Win, Ends Skid - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Wingnuts Suffer Tough Loss in Shreveport - Wichita Wingnuts
- Former Diablo, De La Rosa, Makes Major League Debut - El Paso Diablos
- Pheasants Pound St. Paul in Series Finale - Sioux Falls Canaries
- American Association Game Recap - AA
- Saints Drop Finale of Series to Pheasants 14-6 - St. Paul Saints
- Captains to recognize those who protect and serve Shreveport-Bossier communities - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- X's Drop First Game Of Series In Winnipeg - Sioux City Explorers
- Kaminsky Sends AirHogs to Another Series-Opening Loss - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
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