FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2019
CONTACT: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]
GARY, IND. — A 2-0 lead heading into the eighth inning and six shutout innings from Justin Sinibaldi wasn’t enough for Gary as the RailCats dropped the middle game of the series to Winnipeg Goldeyes, 5-2, on a sunny Wednesday afternoon at U.S. Steel Yard. Wednesday’s loss snaps Gary’s season-high-tying four-game-winning streak and drops Gary’s record to 10-19 for the month of July.
Gary (28-41) brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth but Goldeyes closer Victor Capellan (22) was able to work around trouble and pick up his league-leading 22nd save. Andy De Jesus recorded the last of his three hits to begin the inning with a leadoff bunt single before Will Savage was hit in the back. Alex Crosby then flew out to the right field warning track before MJ Rookard bounced into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Gary scored the first of their two unearned runs in the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. John Price Jr. reached on the first of two fielding errors by Goldeyes third baseman Dominic Ficociello to begin the frame. Two batters later, Colin Willis drew a five-pitch walk before Wilfredo Gimenez brought home Price Jr. from second with an RBI single to center.
The ‘Cats doubled their lead with their final unearned run in the fifth. Savage singled to left with one out before Rookard worked a two-out walk. Price Jr. then hit a one-hopper to Ficociello at third for the second time, however, he couldn’t make the play, resulting in Savage scoring and Price Jr. reaching for the second time.
Winnipeg (39-28) scored all five of their runs with two outs in the eighth to take the lead for good. Kevin Garcia drew a seven-pitch, pinch-hit walk with one out before Tyler Hill singled to left. Carlos Garcia then advanced both runners into scoring with a groundout to the right side of the infield before a wild pitch from Felix Carvallo brought home K. Garcia for the Goldeyes’ first run. James Harris then tied the game with an RBI single past a diving De Jesus at short before Kyle Martin drew a walk. Fociciello followed Harris with an RBI double to right-center to give Winnipeg their first lead of the afternoon. Reggie Abercrombie then made it 5-2 with a two-run double to right-center for the game’s final runs.
Carvallo (2-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on three hits and two walks over 1.1 innings of relief. Mitchell Aker (2-2) retired the only batter he faced in the win while Cameron McVey recorded a hold with a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
Nile Ball (1) recorded his first professional hold for Gary with a perfect top of the seventh in his home debut. The right-hander got the first hitter he faced to popout before striking out the next two batters he saw.
Both starters pitched well but didn’t factor in the decision. Sinibaldi retired the last nine hitters he faced and yielded just two hits and two walks over six scoreless frames. Joel Seddon allowed two unearned runs over six innings for the Goldeyes on five hits and four walks while striking out three.
Gary and Winnipeg conclude their three-game series on Thursday night at 7:10 p.m. RailCats’ Seth Hougesen (1-1, 6.65) opposes Goldeyes’ right-hander Parker French (4-3, 4.67) in the rubber game.
Thursday’s game is Teacher Appreciation Night and Crown Point Community Library Night. Thursday’s game is also another Thirsty Thursday and Gerber Collision & Glass Thursday. Visit any Northwest Indiana Gerber Collision & Glass location for complimentary tickets and enjoy our domestic drafts, select premium drafts, and hot dogs, for $1.50, $3.00 and $1.00, respectively.
Ticket packages for the 2019 Gary SouthShore RailCats season are available online at railcatsbaseball.com and can also be purchased by calling the RailCats ticket line at (219) 882-BALL. The RailCats box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
–RAILCATS–