(Gary, IN) The Gary SouthShore RailCats returned to The Steel Yard for a new set with the Chicago Dogs. The ‘Cats in the middle of the playoff race with the Cleburne Railroaders were 5.5 games back with 20 to go after splitting a six-game set with Cleburne. Dawson Lane got the start coming off his best one of the season and faced off against Connor Lockwood.
Marc Flores in the bottom of the first belted a home run that sailed over the right field wall. In the bottom of the second Kevin Watson singled through the left side to score a run and Flores sent one over the head of the center fielder for two more. The RailCats after two innings had a 4-0 lead.
In the next inning Ozzie Martinez hit his first home run as a RailCat by blasting a ball over the left field wall that led to Connor Lockwood coming out of the game. The RailCats would go on to score four more runs with Andy Nelson, Colin Summerhill and Korry Howell all bringing in runners. In the fourth it was Howell hitting an opposite field grand slam home run for his thirteenth of the season. RailCats led 13-0.
The Chicago Dogs would go through a slew of arms while the RailCats bats remained hot the rest of the way. Flores would hit his second home run of the game this time a three-run shot to put him at eight on the season. In the seventh inning, the RailCats put together six runs on four hits, one of them by former Major League pitcher Zach Plesac who had his hit against Aaron Altherr, former big-league hitter.
In the home-half of the eighth, Kevin Watson Jr sent one into the bullpens to complete the cycle. Marking it the third time in franchise history and the first time since Jesus Marriaga accomplished the feat on July 5, 2022. Two batters later, Nick Podkul found the ‘pens himself for his seventeenth, putting him three away of the franchise record.
The Dogs would score a run in the eighth on a home run from Jaxx Groshans and one more in the ninth on a hit from Chance Sisco. RailCats won by a final of 25-2. The win marks the largest win in American Association history with the RailCats setting numerous franchise records. Most runs, RBI and home runs hit in the Steel Yard with six.
The RailCats got six scoreless innings from Dawson Lane and Denson Hull would go the final three and pick up his second save. Gary’s record improves to 33-48 and the Dogs to 27-55 and game two will feature RHP Peyton Long going for the RailCats and the Dogs will throw former RailCat, Andres Diaz. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 PM and tickets are still available on Tixr.com/RailCats or call at 219-882-2255. A livestream will also be available on AABaseball.TV.