Shorthanded RailCats Drop Opener at Fargo 8-5
Published on August 21, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
Fargo, ND - The Gary South Shore RailCats have become a younger team in the last few weeks and it was that youth that was the difference in a tough 8-5 loss at Fargo-Moorhead Friday night.
With a newer roster and the club winners of 7 of their last 10 to renew wild card playoff hopes the RailCats came out looking like they would answer the bell with an early 1-0 lead. Jon Jones doubled to lead off the game facing RedHawks starter Tyler Stanton. Jones went to third on a sac bunt from Brennan Metzger and raced home on Adam Taylor's team leading 41st RBI.
The team was forced to play without newly acquired first baseman Dustin Geiger, who is day to day with an ankle injury. With the rotation spot open and a double header earlier in the week the RailCats were also forced to go with a spot start. The youth was served early and the test was an A+ for AJ Quintero a rookie making a bullpen start for the South Shore. The righty three a 1-2-3 three first and retired the first man in the second when Fargo-Moorhead right fielder Joe Dunigan hit a solo home run down the left field line that just stayed fair by a matter a few feet and cleared the wall by even less to tie the game at one.
In the home half of the third the RedHawks were back at it against Quintero and his grade would fall dramatically. Michael Wing doubled and the nine man in the order Ryan Pineda was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Zach Penprase then drew a walk to load the bases for former RailCat Drew Muren. Muren smashed a hard hit ball just off the glove of Spencer Mahoney at first base scoring a pair and it was 3-1 Fargo. A pair of fielders choice grounders from Chad Mozingo and Joe Bonfe scored two more to make it 5-1.
The RailCats then got more runs back in the top of the fourth with an Metzger RBI and a Stanton wild pitch but Fargo left any doubt that it would not be the rookie Quintero's night. Luke Bailey singled in the bottom of the fourth and came home on a two run home run from Wing to make it 7-3.
The RailCats would again chip away as Kevin Osaki did come in a pitch two scoreless innings for Gary. Stanton loaded the bases in the sixth with a pair of hits and a walk. Adam Taylor drove in two more with a single up the middle to cut the lead to 7-5. The RailCats would get runners on in each of the next two innings leaving two in each inning and leaving a pair in the sixth, seventh and eighth.
Fargo got a big insurance run off of rookie John Kovalik when the RailCas could not turn a bases loaded third to first double play. The RailCat went 1-2-3 in the ninth off of RedHawks closer Mike Nesseth who notched his 15th save. Stanton (4-4) got the win despite giving up five earned runs, while Quintero (1-2)suffered his second loss.
The RailCats remain five games back in the wild card hunt and face a must win pair of games this weekend in Fargo. Game two is set for Saturday night with LHP Rene Solis (3-6, 4.50) going for the South Shore while the RedHawks will send out LHP Brandon Mann (5-8, 4.21). Game time is 6:02pm from Newman Outdoor Stadium in Fargo. The game can be heard online only Saturday night at RailCatsbaseball.com with the pregame at 5:42pm.
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