FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 6, 2019
CONTACT: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]
GARY, IND. — The Gary South Shore RailCats fell to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, 5-3, with 4,220 in attendance in the opening contest of a three-game series on a beautiful Tuesday night at U.S. Steel Yard. Tuesday’s loss drops the ‘Cats record to 4-3 during their nine-game, 10-day homestand and to 2-6 head-to-head against the RedHawks.
Fargo-Moorhead (47-27) jumped out to a 2-0 lead after having the first four batters of the night reach safely to begin the series. Former RailCat Brennan Metzger served a soft single into right-center on the third pitch of the game before Tim Colwell pulled a double into the right field corner on the first pitch he saw. Devan Ahart then drew a five-pitch walk before Chris Jacobs delivered the first two runs of the series with a two-run single to right-center.
Gary (31-43) recorded their first run of the series in the third despite not recording a hit in inning. Marcus Mooney began the frame with a five-pitch walk before MJ Rookard was hit it in the right elbow with one out. Tom Walraven then extended his on-base streak to 21 games with a four-pitch walk before Colin Willis was plunked on a 1-2 pitch, bringing Mooney home from third for the ‘Cats first run.
The RedHawks took their biggest lead at 5-2 with three more runs in the top of sixth. Ahart reached base for the third time with a four-pitch walk to begin the inning before Jacobs blasted his team-leading 15th home run off the video board in left-center for his third and fourth RBIs of the night. Three straight singles from T.J. Bennett, Leo Pina and Brian Olson then loaded the bases for Yhoxian Medina. Medina delivered with an RBI fielder’s choice, scoring Bennett from third.
Gary quickly countered with two runs in bottom of the sixth to make it a 5-3 game. Colin Willis doubled down the right field line on an 0-2 pitch to begin the inning before moving up to third on a lineout to right-center off the bat of Wilfredo Gimenez. Randy Santiesteban followed Gimenez with an RBI double off the base of the left-center field wall, scoring Willis from third. Ray Jones then gave the ‘Cats runners on the corners with a bunt single up the third base line. Mooney followed Jones with a sacrifice fly to left, bringing in Santiesteban from third for the final run of the inning.
Seth Hougesen (2-2) was tagged with the loss in his second starts against Fargo-Moorhead. The southpaw allowed five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one over a career-high 5.1 innings.
Felix Carvallo threw a season-high 3.2 scoreless innings of relief in the loss. The southpaw allowed four hits and two walks while striking a pair.
Sebastian Kessay (8-0) recorded the win in his second start against Gary. The southpaw allowed three runs on four hits, walked two and hit a season-high four batters while striking out five in 5.1 innings.
RedHawks relievers Joe Filomeno and Brent Jones each recorded holds with scoreless innings. Filomeno yielded just a hit and a walk while striking out four over 1.2 innings while Jones stuck out a pair in a perfect bottom of the eighth. Geoff Broussard (21) recorded the save and secured the win with a perfect bottom of the ninth.
Gary and Fargo-Moorhead resume their three-game series on Wednesday night at 6:45 p.m. The RedHawks send right-hander Brett Helton (3-5, 4.69) to the mound in the middle game of the series while the RailCats have yet to announce their starter.
Wednesday’s game is Lake County Public Library Night, and another Creekside “Pop-Up Bar Wednesday”, celebrating the Simpsons, and NorthShore Health Centers Wednesday. Visit any Northwest Indiana NorthShore Health Center for complimentary tickets to a RailCats game.
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–