RailCats Take Series with 10-6 Win as Massaro Sets Triples Record
Published on August 7, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
GARY, Ind. - The first-place Gary SouthShore RailCats used another outstanding effort from the offense to earn a 10-6 victory and capture the series from the Kansas City T-Bones. Outfielder Mike Massaro also set the RailCats franchise mark for triples in a season in the fifth inning with his tenth of the 2011 campaign.
The Tenth Anniversary Season of RailCats Baseball is shaping up to be another memorable one for Greg Tagert's bunch as the RailCats improved to an impressive 47-32 on the year and collected their American Association-best 25th home victory. The 'Cats put the pressure on the T-Bones with runners on-base all afternoon and pounded out 14 hits for the second straight night en route to a 10-6 victory at U. S. Steel Yard Sunday. Four RailCats had multi-hit games and once again eight of the nine RailCats starters contributed at least one hit.
Those unlucky fans caught in traffic missed arguably the highlight of the night in the first inning when Cristian Guerrero stepped into the batter's box at U. S. Steel Yard following a Brad Boyer two-out single. The Dominican slugger connected on a 0-1 pitch from T-Bones starter Reid Santos and deposited the ball over the First Midwest Bank CatWalk in leftfield to give the RailCats an early 2-0 lead. The next batter, Toddric Johnson dropped down a bunt single, advanced to second on an error and scored on shortstop Brian Kolb's sharp single to right giving the 'Cats a 3-0 lead after one.
After a leadoff double in the second by Jim Fasano, Kansas City cut the RailCats lead to 3-1 on an Aharon Eggleston single. However, the RailCats got the run right back in the home half of the frame thanks to a two-out RBI-double off the bat of Massaro.
The T-Bones cut the 'Cats advantage to just one run when catcher Kala Ka'aihue homered with Fasano on first base in the fourth and claimed a brief 5-4 lead in the fifth on another two-run homer, this one by third baseman Rico Washington. The RailCats responded by scoring a pair of runs in the fifth to reclaim the upper hand. Massaro's record setting triple got things rolling as Klein, who walked to begin the inning, scored to tie the game. Boyer's RBI-single knocked home Massaro to put the 'Cats back on top by a score of 6-5.
The RailCats saw Kansas City tie the game at six in the sixth on a Jimmy Mojica RBI-single, but the 'Cats exploded for three runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game out of reach. Maddox walked and Chris Carrara singled to set the stage for Klein, whose single drove in Maddox and gave the RailCats the lead for good. Boyer doubled home Carrara two batters later and Klein crossed the plate on Johnson's sacrifice fly to centerfield to push the score to 9-6. The 'Cats added an extra insurance run in the seventh on a Massaro double to drive in Carrara from second.
Massaro collected three extra-base hits on this record setting afternoon including a pair of doubles and the aforementioned triple in the fifth. Boyer joined in the three-hit parade as well capping off his day with an RBI double in the sixth. Guerrero's two RBI gave him 69 on the season which not only is a career-best for the power hitting outfielder but is also creeping up on Tanner Townsend's RailCats single-season record of 83 set in 2007.
Will Krout picked up his fifth win of the season after allowing just one run over 3.1 innings of relief. The Sidewinding-righty struck out three in the contest before giving way to fellow righty Chris Little, who pitched a scoreless ninth for the RailCats. LHP Alain Quijano allowed five runs on eight hits but did not factor in the decision in his first start after being activated off the disabled list today. Prior to today's game, the RailCats also released lefty reliever Thomas Nelson and placed RHP Travis Minix on the disabled list.
Time is running out to catch Northwest Indiana's favorite summer event! The RailCats return to beautiful U. S. Steel Yard next weekend on Friday, August 12 for a 7:10 p.m. contest as the 2010 American Association Champion Shreveport-Bossier Captains invade Northwest Indiana for a six-game series. Join the 'Cats for Fireworks Friday presented by First Midwest Bank and the Post-Tribune featuring the best fireworks display this side of the Indiana Toll Road. For more information on the upcoming promotions at U. S. Steel Yard or to purchase tickets today, visit www.railcatsbaseball.com or call the 'Cats at 219.822.2255.
American Association Stories from August 7, 2011
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- Pheasants Finish off Fargo-Moorhead with Series Sweep - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Saltdogs Score Two in Final Frame for Walk-Off Win - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Elliott Throws Complete Game Shutout as Sox Top Captains 1-0 - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Wild Seventh Costs AirHogs Sweep - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- Wingnuts Hang on to Take Series from X's - Wichita Wingnuts
- RailCats Take Series with 10-6 Win as Massaro Sets Triples Record - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- AirHogs Come Back to Win Suspended Game - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- Gary Grills T-Bones, Takes Rubber Match 10-6 - Kansas City Monarchs
- Back-to-Back Shutouts Give Pheasants Sweep over RedHawks - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Saints Walk to 5-3 Victory Over Goldeyes - St. Paul Saints
- Goldeyes Lose Series Finale, Remain in First Place - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- 2011 Group Outings With Your Hometown Sioux City X's - Sioux City Explorers
- X's Take Down Wingnuts - Sioux City Explorers
- Thomas' Two Runs Help Captains Split Doubleheader with 4-3 Victory in Game Two - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
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