GARY, IND. — The Gary SouthShore RailCats had their four-game winning streak snapped on a cool Monday evening at U.S. Steel Yard after falling to the Chicago Dogs, 5-3, in 10 innings. Gary put the game-winning run on second base in bottom of the ninth and brought the game-tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 10th but came up just short in the fourth game of the year between the two clubs.
Chicago (11-5) scored the last of their five two-out runs in the top of the 10th to go in front for good. Back-to-back one-out singles from Kelly Dugan and Tony Rosselli gave the Dogs runners on first and second. Keon Barnum then struck out for out number two before Victor Roache went the opposite way with an RBI single, scoring Dugan from second. However, a throwing error from catcher Wilfredo Gimenez on the throw down to second after the throw came home from Colin Willis in right field sailed into center field, allowing Roselli to score the final run of the evening.
Gary (9-7) took the opening lead of the series with a run in the first. Marcus Mooney increased his on-base streak to nine games with a one-out walk. Mooney then advanced to second on a wild pitch from Dogs starter D.J. Snelten before cruising into third on a passed ball from Dogs catcher Larry Balkwill. With two outs and Willis at the plate, Mooney came into score on the second of two wild pitches from Snelten in the inning.
Chicago jumped took their first lead of the series with three two-out runs in the third. Balkwill walked with one out before David Olmedo-Barrera was hit in the side. Edwin Arroyo then reached on an infield single to load the bases. After Trey Vavra struck out for the second out of the frame, Dugan poked a two-run opposite field single off the glove of RailCats third baseman Randy Santiesteban, scoring Balkwill and Olmedo-Barrera. Rosselli delivered the final run of the inning with an RBI single to right, bringing Arroyo into score from third.
The RailCats evened the game at 3-3 with their final two runs in the sixth. Mooney reached on a throwing error by Dogs shortstop Jordan Dean to begin the inning before Santiesteban pulled a single to left, giving Gary runners on first and second. After Willis lined out to left for out number one, Tom Walraven increased his season-high hitting streak to nine games with an opposite-field RBI single down the right field line, plating Mooney from second. Gimenez followed Walraven with an RBI fielder’s choice to third, scoring Santiesteban from third to tie the game.
Kaleb Fontenot (0-2) was charged with the loss after allowing two runs (one earned) over two innings of relief. The right-hander allowed three hits and struck out three batters in his second appearance in the last three games.
Lars Liguori recorded his second straight quality start in a no-decision. The left-hander allowed three runs on eight hits, a walk and a hit batsman and four strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
Brandon Shimo (1-0) struck out the only batter he faced in the win for Chicago while John Goossen-Brown (4) worked a scoreless bottom of the 10th for his team-high fourth save.
Gary continues their four-game homestand at U.S. Steel Yard on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. vs. the Chicago Dogs. Michigan City, Ind., native Robbie Coursel (2-0, 1.32) makes his first home start for the RailCats in the second game of the series against the American Association Daily, the Minor League Sports Report and This Week in the Association Co-Pitcher of the month of May in Dogs southpaw Luke Westphal (2-0, 0.00).
Tuesday’s game is the second Tuesday Community Healthnet Health Centers Tuesday and Taco Tuesday of the season and is also Hobart and Lake Station Community Night, presented by Fifth Third Bank. Visit any Northwest Indiana CHN for complimentary tickets and try our beef tacos for just $2 and margaritas for $5.
–RAILCATS–