The Gary SouthShore RailCats snapped their season-high-tying six-game losing streak and recorded the first win of their six-game road trip with a 10-3 victory over the Milwaukee Milkmen in the opening game of the series on a beautiful Saturday night at Routine Field. All nine of the RailCats starters reached base safely, eight of whom scored at least once in the fifth contest of the year between the two clubs.
Milwaukee (27-37) took the opening lead of the series on a two-run home run from All-Star catcher Manuel Boscan in the first inning. Garrett Copeland walked with one out before Boscan hit his eighth home run of the year on to the right field concourse.
Gary (25-40) took their first lead of the series with five two-out runs in the third. Will Savage doubled to right-center with one out before MJ Rookard worked a six-pitch walk. John Price Jr. then reached on an infield single before Tom Walraven brought home both Savage and Rookard with a two-run opposite-field single to right field. Sheboygan, Wis., native Colin Willis followed Walraven with a three-run home run on to the right field concourse for the final runs of the inning.
The ‘Cats took their biggest lead of the night at 9-2 with four more runs in the sixth. Willis walked to start the inning before Danny De La Calle was hit in the helmet. Andy De Jesus then advanced both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, however, a throwing error by Milkmen starter Jordan Kraus allowed De Jesus to reach first safely. Marcus Mooney followed De Jesus with a bases-loaded walk before Savage drove in the second run of the frame with a sacrifice fly to right. Alex Crosby increased the Gary lead to six with an RBI single to right before Rookard delivered the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right.
The Milkmen cut the Gary lead to six on a solo home run from Jose Rosario in the eighth. Rosario’s homer was his seventh of the year and the final long ball of the night.
Gary regained their seven-run lead with one last run in the ninth. Willis tripled off former RailCat Myles Smith with one out before De La Calle brought him in with an RBI single to left.
Kraus (4-2) had his three-game winning halted after allowing a season-high nine runs (seven earned) over six innings. The right-hander yielded seven hits and four walks while striking out three.
Justin Sinibaldi (4-4) recorded the win after allowing two runs over five innings. The right-hander yielded five hits, walked two and hit a batter while striking out three.
Nick Floyd tossed two scoreless innings of relief while Jack Alkire secured the win with a scoreless bottom of the ninth. Nile Ball signed with Gary before the game and allowed one run on two hits out of the bullpen.
Gary continues their six-game road trip and three-game series against the Milwaukee Milkmen at Routine Field on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Neither team has announced their starter for the middle game of the series.
Gary returns home to U.S. Steel Yard on Tuesday for a nine-game, 10-day homestand vs. the Winnipeg Goldeyes at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday’s game is Crown Point Community Library Night and features a food drive, supporting Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. Tuesday’s game is also another Community HealthNet Health Centers Tuesday and Taco Tuesday. Visit any Northwest Indiana CHN for complimentary tickets to Tuesday’s game and enjoy our beef tacos and margaritas for $2 and $5, 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.