GARY SOUTHSHORE RAILCATS MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2023
Contact: Ryan Zimmerman
Phone: 219-882-2255
[email protected]   

RailCats Suffer Setback on Opening Day 

Gary, IN – The Winnipeg Goldeyes emerged victorious on Opening Day as they took down the Gary SouthShore RailCats 6-1. 

Winnipeg got the scoring started right away as they struck in the top of the first.  A single and a sacrifice bunt placed a runner on second base with one out.  Though a Max Murphy strikeout jeopardized the run-scoring opportunity, Andrew Shaps singled to center field to plate the game’s first run. 

The Goldeyes continued to threaten that inning and loaded the bases, but RailCats starter Edward Cuello buckled down and produced a strikeout to prevent any further damage. 

However, Winnipeg did not wait long after that to tack on another run.  A Jacob Bockelie sacrifice fly doubled their advantage in the top of the third, putting them ahead 2-0. 

From then on, Cuello found his rhythm on the mound.  In addition to throwing perfect innings in the fourth and fifth, he concluded his five-inning start by retiring the last seven batters he faced, permitting just three hits while striking out five. 

Once he departed from the ballgame, the Goldeyes got back to work offensively.  A Hidekel Gonzalez two-run home run in the sixth as well as a Brynn Martinez single in the seventh provided three more insurance runs, giving them a 5-0 cushion. 

As the offense got the job done, Luis Ramirez twirled an excellent start to back them up.  Across his six innings, he did not allow a run on two hits, striking out three and walking two in a winning effort. 

Upon Ramirez’s exit, the RailCats found their way onto the scoreboard.  Francisco Del Valle launched a home run into the seats down the right field line, his first on the South Shore, to pull Gary SouthShore within four. 

The very next half-inning the Goldeyes answered back and replenished their lead to five.  With the bases loaded, Dayson Croes got hit by a pitch to score Winnipeg’s sixth run of the contest. 

Gary SouthShore threatened in the bottom of the eighth despite not putting a ball in play to send the tying run to the on-deck circle.  Daniel Lingua and Jesus Marriaga drew consecutive two-out walks and Emmanuel Tapia got hit by a pitch immediately afterwards to fill the bases, but a strikeout kept the RailCats from cutting into the Winnipeg lead. 

Matt Leon entered in relief for Gary SouthShore in the top of the ninth and struck out three batters in his RailCats debut, but the Goldeyes shut the door in the bottom half of the frame to secure the win. 

The two teams have a day off tomorrow and will return to The Steel Yard at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 13th.  All the action will be streamed on aabaseball.tv, 95.9 WEFM, and the Gary SouthShore RailCats Broadcast Network through the Mixlr app. 

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