GARY SOUTHSHORE RAILCATS MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2022
Contact: Ryan Zimmerman
Phone: 219-882-2255
[email protected]
‘Cats Complete Late Comeback to Sweep DockHounds
Oconomowoc, WI – Down to their final five outs, it looked increasingly likely that the Lake Country DockHounds would defeat the Gary SouthShore RailCats in the final game of this four-game set. However, the ‘Cats had other plans. They turned a 5-2 deficit into a 6-5 victory to cap off a sweep.
Through the first three innings, though, pitching stole the show. Starter John Sheaks carved through the Lake Country lineup in his first go-around, not allowing a single baserunner while striking out three in the process.
However, the DockHounds offense sprung to life in the fourth inning. Three consecutive singles opened up the frame before shortstop Gabriel Noriega delivered a grand slam to put Lake Country up 4-0. They reloaded the bases later that inning with one out, but Sheaks coaxed a strikeout and a flyout to prevent any further damage.
In the top of the sixth, the RailCats began to chip away at the Lake Country lead. Alec Olund and Javeyan Williams ripped doubles that placed runners on second and third before Zach Welz singled Olund in to put Gary SouthShore on the board. As runners stood on the corners, Michael Woodworth laid down a perfect bunt to bring Williams home and cut the DockHounds lead to 4-2.
In their next turn at the plate after the RailCats cut their lead in half, Lake Country fired back to fend off the middle-inning outburst. A one-out bloop single with runners on the corners did the trick for the DockHounds and increased their advantage to three.
While Lake Country stood on the precipice of busting the game open, manager Lamarr Rogers turned to Aaron Phillips in relief to hold the hosts right where they stood. In another bases-loaded jam, he stood tall and struck two batters out to keep the ‘Cats in the game.
After the two teams exchanged zeros in the seventh, the RailCats fired their offense back up in the eighth. Williams knocked a base hit into center field and immediately advanced to second base on a wild pitch. A Woodworth single placed runners on the corners to set the stage for Daniel Lingua. At the end of a 10-pitch at-bat against relief pitcher Mitch Sparks, he crushed a three-run home run to tie the contest at 5-5.
A shutout eighth inning kept the two squads level heading into the ninth, and it didn’t take long for the RailCats to finish their comeback. Chris Burgess delivered a no-doubt leadoff home run which gave the RailCats a 6-5 edge.
Needing just three outs to secure the sweep, Phillips kept his cool on the hill. Though an infield popup dropped just behind the rubber, he did not let the leadoff baserunner affect him. He proceeded to get the final three outs in succession, striking Noriega out to finish off an impressive win.
The RailCats return home to The Steel Yard tomorrow as the Sioux City Explorers head to town for a doubleheader starting at 4:00 p.m. All the actions from both games can be streamed on aabaseball.tv, 95.9 WEFM, and the Gary SouthShore RailCats Broadcast Network through the Mixlr app.
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