GARY SOUTHSHORE RAILCATS MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2022
Contact: Ryan Zimmerman
Phone: 219-882-2255
[email protected]
 

Cardiac ‘Cats Strike Again in Franklin 

Franklin, WI – Down 7-4 with six outs left in the game, the Gary SouthShore RailCats looked destined to suffer a loss at Franklin Field.  However, a six-run outburst over the final two innings turned the tables and helped them take down the Milwaukee Milkmen 10-9 to close out the Memorial Day weekend series. 

In the early goings, both teams traded blows as their offenses got going.  Following a first-inning Milkmen sacrifice fly, Zach Racusin crushed a solo home run to straightaway left field in the top of the second, his first of the season.  Though Milwaukee responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of that frame, Michael Woodworth fought back as his RBI triple cut the Milkmen lead to 3-2. 

After RailCats pitching held off the Milkmen in the third, they took their first lead in the top of the fourth inning.  Racusin belted his second home run to tie the score at three before consecutive base hits from Alec Olund, Jackson Smith, and Tom Walraven loaded the bases.  The very next batter, Daniel Lingua, ripped a single to bring Olund in and put Gary SouthShore in front 4-3. 

It did not take long, though, for Milwaukee to respond.  Four hits in the bottom of the fourth led to a three-spot that grabbed their lead back. They tacked on one more in the sixth to extend their advantage to 7-4. 

With their backs against the wall, the Gary SouthShore hitters sprang into action.  Sam Abbott led off the top of the eighth by doubling, and Smith got hit by a pitch two batters later.  Representing the tying run, Walraven snuck a double down the left-field line to plate a pair and cut the Milkmen lead to one.  As the tying run stood 90 feet away, Lingua tripled him in and leveled the contest at seven.  A Javeyan Williams sacrifice fly completed the comeback and placed the RailCats ahead 8-7. 

Milwaukee quickly countered by loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth, a base hit away from re-taking control.  But, once manager Lamarr Rogers turned to Carlos Vega out of the bullpen, he struck out the next two batters he faced to shut down the scoring threat and preserve the RailCats lead. 

As their momentum continued to grow, the RailCats went back to work at the plate.  Racusin led off by singling and stealing second base right away, and Olund took a fastball off his back to position runners on first and second.  Smith then stepped up once again as he knocked a two-base hit to left-center field, providing his team a crucial insurance run. Walraven followed up with a single which gave the ‘Cats a three-run cushion heading into the bottom of the ninth. 

Needing three runs to tie the game, Milwaukee pieced together one last rally.  Two-one out singles and a two-run double got the tying run to second base, and a productive out moved him to third.  Once again, though, Vega buckled down and struck out the final batter to secure a hard-fought victory. 

The RailCats return home to The Steel Yard as the Lake Country DockHounds come to town for a Memorial Day doubleheader starting at 4:00 p.m.  All the action can be seen on aabaseball.tv, 95.9 WEFM, and the Gary SouthShore RailCats Broadcast Network through the Mixlr app. 

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