FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 25, 2019
CONTACT: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]
LINCOLN, NEB. — Three hits from Marcus Mooney and five scoreless innings from the Gary bullpen led the RailCats to a 4-1 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs on Sunday evening at Haymarket Park in a game that lasted just two hours, 36 minutes. The RailCats pitching staff held the Saltdogs to a season-best two hits and had eight of the nine starters reach base safely at least once.
Lincoln (38-55) took the opening lead of the night on Cody Regis’ solo home run with one out in the first. Regis’ home run was his 15th of the year and the Saltdogs first of the series.
Gary (37-56) quickly countered with its first run in the third to tie the game. Michael Blatchford was hit on the right elbow on the first pitch of the inning before moving up to second on Daniel Gardner’s groundout to second base. Mooney followed Gardner with the second of his two doubles to bring Blatchford around to score.
The RailCats took their first lead of the night with a two-out run in the sixth. Mooney singled down the right field line to begin the inning before moving up to second on Abel Arocho’s groundout to second. Alex Crosby followed Arocho with a groundout to second, advancing Mooney up to third, before Randy Santiesteban brought him home with an RBI single through the left side of the infield.
Gary added the game’s final runs in the ninth to go by three. Tommy McCarthy and Andy De Jesus drew consecutive walks to begin the inning before Danny De La Calle singled to center to load the bases. Two batters later, Daniel Gardner drew a bases-loaded walk before Mooney drove in the last run of the night with a sacrifice fly to left.
Andrew Cartier (2-0) picked up the win 2.2 innings of relief while Felix Carvallo (6) retired all four batters he faced, two via strikeouts, in a hold. Sandy Lugo (9) recorded his third straight perfect frame with the save in the bottom of the ninth and has now retired the last 13 batters he’s faced.
David Griffin, who was activated from the 7-Day Disabled List before the game, yielded just one run on a hit and two walks over a career-high four innings in his first pro start. The right-hander matched a career-high with four strikeouts and retired 11 of the final 13 hitters he faced.
Jake Hohensee (4-8) was charged with the loss despite recording his second straight quality start. The right-hander went six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and hit a batter while striking out four.
Gary concludes its three-game series vs. Lincoln on Monday morning at 11:05 a.m. RailCats’ left-hander Trevor Lubking (5-10) makes his league-high 23rd start against Saltdogs’ right-hander Ricky Knapp (4-9, 5.77) in the rubber game.
Gary returns home to U.S. Steel Yard on Saturday, Aug. 31st to conclude the season vs. Lincoln. Saturday’s game is at 4:10 p.m. and is Oktoberfest, presented by Berey Bros., and features a team card set giveaway to the first 1,000 fans. Sunday’s game is also another AccessAbilities Signature Saturday and Kids Run the Bases.
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–