RailCats Win 5-4 in Wild 11 Inning Game
July 7, 2012 - American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
GARY, Ind. - Brian Kolb rolled a game-winning infield single just fair inside the third base line in the 11th inning as the RailCats topped the Lincoln Saltdogs 5-4 in a wild series opener on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 3,479 at U. S. Steel Yard.
With the game tied at four in the 11th, Mike Massaro led off with a single to left, moved to second on a sac bunt by Mike Coles and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With two out, Kolb hit a swinging bunt that trickled down the third base line. Saltdogs third baseman Jimmy Rohan's tried to will the ball foul, but it came to a stop in fair territory to score Massaro as the RailCats stormed the field in celebration.
The Saltdogs jumped out to an early lead when John Alonso hit a sac fly in the first inning off of RailCats starter Morgan Coombs to put the Saltdogs on top 1-0.
The RailCats tied it in the fourth on an RBI double to right by newcomer Sergio Miranda, who signed with the club earlier in the day. In the fifth, Alonso and Holdren hit back-to-back sac flies to give Lincoln a two-run lead. The RailCats pulled a run back in the bottom of the inning on a run-scoring single by Mike Massaro to cut the deficit to 3-2.
With two outs in the sixth, Ryan Babinau, Chris Carrara and David Cooper hit three straight singles, with Cooper's base-hit scoring Babineau to tie the ballgame 3-3.
Things got wild for the RailCats in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Miranda hit a fly ball to centerfield that Mike Provencher lost in the lights and dropped for a double. Craig Maddox then pinch-hit for Babineau against Pete Parise. Maddox singled to center but Provencher got redemption by gunning Miranda out at home plate to keep the game tied.
In the bottom of then ninth, the RailCats had the game-winning run at third after Mike Coles singled, stole second and advanced on a wild throw from the catcher, but Sean Henry struck out to send the game into extra-innings.
The Saltdogs jumped ahead in the tenth when Joe Spiers drew a lead-off walk and then scored on a John Alonso fielder's choice. With runners on the corners, Alonso's grounder looks to be a double-play in the making, but David Espinosa slid into second base taking out David Cooper and breaking up the double-play.
The RailCats came right back in the bottom of the tenth to tie the game. Mike Rohde led the inning off with a single and then stole second base. Brian Kolb bunted him over to third and then Rohde scored on a broken-bat single to left that tied the game 4-4.
RailCats starter Morgan Coombs delivered a solid outing, lasting six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits for the no-decision.
Game two of the four-game series is Sunday afternoon at 2:10 PM. No starter has been announced for the RailCats. Southpaw Tommy Palica (1-4, 8.79) will go for the Saltdogs.
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