NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Win Record Tenth Straight at Home, Beat Flyers 4-1

August 5, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - Rob Marconi doubled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning and five pitchers combined on a four-hitter as the Gary SouthShore RailCats won their record-setting tenth consecutive game at U. S. Steel Yard, 4-1 over the Schaumburg Flyers in front of 3,696 fans Wednesday night.

The ‘Cats have not lost a game at the Steel Yard since July 13 and improved to a league-best 27-9 at home while reaching 13 games over .500 overall for the first time in 2009. The RailCats need only four more wins to match a club record for single-season home victories (31, 2006) and still have 12 games left at the park to get those wins. The previous record home win streak of nine games was set May 23 - June 14, 2007.

The RailCats record-breaking win was in doubt much of the evening, though, as starters Garret Holleran and Ed Almonte (4-9) locked in a pitcher's duel through the first six innings. Tied at one into the seventh, Mike Rohde led off the inning with a triple - the second RailCats hit of the night - to drive Almonte from the game. With one out and Rohde still at third, Jordan Czarniecki walked in front of Marconi, who ripped a line drive off the wall in left to score Rohde easily and put the ‘Cats in front. Josh Giles would walk Jay Pecci with the bases loaded later in the inning to force in another run.

Rohde had both of the first two RailCats hits, getting the scoring started with a one-out single in the second and stealing a base. It looked like Rohde would be stranded, however, when Czarniecki hit a ground ball to third with two outs but Tony Mansolino's throw went past first baseman Jeff Dunbar to bring Rohde around with the game's first run. The Flyers committed three errors, including another on a dropped fly ball in the eighth that led to the ‘Cats fourth run.

The RailCats, on the other hand, played absolutely sparkling defense all night. Rohde made a bare-handed play to deny speedy Antoan Richardson a bunt hit in the fourth, Eric McNamee made a glove-only flip to get the third out of the fifth and McNamee again came through with a diving stab to end the game in the ninth. But it was Jay Pecci who stole the show in the sixth after Richardson had tripled to lead off the inning. With the infield in at the edge of the grass, Pecci stabbed Travis Brown's groundout from his backside and threw out Brown to hold Richardson at third with one out. On batter later, Pecci dove to his right to snare a one-hop rocket off the bat of Victor Ferrante to again hold the runner and keep the game tied at one.

Holleran would eventually get out of the sixth inning to complete his second straight excellent start. Holleran gave up only three hits and one earned run in six innings of work and has allowed just five hits over 12.0 innings in his last two starts. Kyle Heyne (2-0) pitched a scoreless seventh to get the win, Grant Johnson followed with a scoreless eighth and Andy Shipman retired the side in order in the ninth for his 11th save. The RailCats bullpen has now thrown 17.2 straight scoreless innings dating back to July 30.

Almonte allowed only two hits but still suffered the loss, walking three and giving up two runs (one earned). Giles was saddled with the other runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks in 1.1 innings.

Rohde was the only RailCats player with two hits and scored three of the four RailCats runs, extending his consecutive game on base streak to ten. Anthony Esquer had the fourth RailCats base hit, reaching on a perfectly placed suicide squeeze bunt to score Rohde with the fourth RailCats run in the eighth inning.

The RailCats (43-30) wrap up a brief four-game homestand Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the finale against the Flyers (31-41) when the Famous Chicken will be in town for his annual appearance. The Chicken - presented Thursday by NIEMI Associates and Indiana 105 - has been entertaining millions around the world and this appearance is his only stop in Northwest Indiana all year. Plus, it's Thirsty Thursday at U. S. Steel Yard with $2 MGD and Miller Lite drafts available for fan 21-and-over courtesy North Coast Distributing and X-Rock 103.9 FM.

The ‘Cats will send Tony Cogan (6-6, 3.79 ERA) to the mound Thursday night against Schaumburg's Carmen Pignatiello (6-7, 5.88 ERA). That game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Notes: The win, coupled with a Winnipeg loss, brings the RailCats within 2.5 games of the first place Goldeyes ... the ‘Cats win was their 13th in 15 games against Schaumburg this season and 12th in a row at the Steel Yard against the Flyers, dating back to last season ... since the start of last season, the RailCats are 33-5 against Schaumburg ... Steve Haake went 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at 10 games.

More Info: The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a Professional Minor League Baseball Team serving Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs. The RailCats won the Northern League championship in 2005 and 2007 and for each of the last five years, they have been chosen "Best Local Spectator Sport" by Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly. Their 96 game schedule includes 48 home games at beautiful U. S. Steel Yard, an award-winning 6,000 seat state-of-the-art facility located next to the Indiana Toll Road (I-90) with easy access to I-65.

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