Gary South Shore RailCats
Kolb, Babineau Lead 'Cats to 5-4 Win
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Kolb, Babineau Lead 'Cats to 5-4 Win
Friday, August 17, 2012
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GARY, Ind. - Brian Kolb and Ryan Babineau combined to drive in all the RailCats' runs en route to a 5-4 series opening win against Sioux Falls on Friday night. The RailCats improve to 12-4 in the month of August and 42-43 overall on the season.

The RailCats got on the board in the first inning against Sioux Falls starter Pete Gehle. Mike Massaro singled and Chris Carrara walked before Babineau brought them both home with a triple to dead center. Kolb followed with a sac fly to center to give the 'Cats a 3-0 edge.

Sioux Falls answered in the third inning against RailCats starter Jon Gulbransen. The Pheasants strung together five straight singles, and took the lead when the inning continued following a controversial call. The game had been tied when Reggie Abercrombie was tagged out to end the inning. However, the inning continued when obstruction was called on RailCats second baseman Chase Tucker, a call which was argued by RailCats skipper Greg Tagert until he was ejected. Former RailCat Cristian Guerrero followed that with an RBI single to give the Pheasants a 4-3 lead. 

The RailCats tied the game in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk by Kolb. Kolb struck again in the bottom of the seventh. After two walks and a wild pitch by reliever Dan Cooper, Kolb hit a sac fly to left to score Massaro, making it 5-4 in favor of the RailCats.

Gulbransen went 4 2/3 innings, his shortest outing since his debut on July 10th against Lincoln. He allowed four runs, all earned, on seven hits, while striking out five and walking three. He did not factor in the decision. Gehle went six innings for the Pheasants, settling down nicely after the first inning. He also took a no-decision, allowing four runs on six hits.

The RailCats bullpen came on to pitch 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Nolan Nicholson (4-3) got the win, going 2 1/3 scoreless in relief. Marco Gonzalez came on in the ninth to record his fifth save of the season.

The middle-game of the three-game series is on Saturday night at 6:10 PM. Morgan Coombs (4-7, 5.52) will go for the RailCats and take on Mark Michael (6-6, 6.47).