GARY, IND. — Three hits from Alex Crosby and two home runs from the Gary wasn’t enough in the middle game of the series against Fargo-Moorhead on Wednesday night at U.S. Steel Yard as the RailCats fell to the RedHawks, 5-4, in 10 innings. Wednesday’s loss ends Gary’s run of three straight series wins and drops the RailCats record to 4-4 during their nine-game, 10-game homestand.
Tied 4-4 with two outs in tenth, Daniel Comstock put Fargo-Moorhead (48-27) in front for good with a solo home run just over the left-center field wall. Comstock’s home run was his eighth of the year and the last of his two RBIs on the evening.
Christian DeLeon (1-3) was tagged with his first loss out of the bullpen after allowing the home run to Comstock. Carter Hope (2-1) picked up the win with a perfect bottom of the ninth while Geoff Broussard (22) recorded his second straight save with a perfect bottom of the 10th.
Crosby gave Gary their first lead of the series with a solo home on to the right field concourse on the first pitch of the night from Fargo-Moorhead starter Bret Helton. Crosby’s home run was his fourth of the year and the RailCats second to begin a game.
Fargo-Moorhead quickly countered with a run in the second to tie the game at one. Correlle Prime doubled with one out for the RedHawks’ first hit of the night before moving up to third on a fielding error by Marcus Mooney at shortstop. Two batters later, Comstock delivered a two-out RBI single to left.
The RedHawks took their first lead of the night with a three-run third. Tim Colwell walked to begin the inning before moving up to second on a one-out single from Chris Jacobs. Three straight RBI singles from Prime, T.J. Bennett and Leo Pina then gave Fargo a 4-1 advantage.
Colin Willis trimmed the Gary (31-44) deficit to 4-2 with a solo home run just inside the right field foul pole to begin the bottom of the fourth. Willis’ home run was his team-leading seventh of the season and the last of two hit by the ‘Cats.
The RailCats added another run in the fifth to make it a 4-3 contest. Andy De Jesus singled through the right side of the infield to begin the inning before moving up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mooney. Crosby followed with an RBI single to center, bringing home De Jesus from second.
Gary evened the game at 4-4 with their final run in the seventh. Crosby singled to center to begin the inning before moving up to second an infield single off the bat of Tom Walraven. Willis then advanced both baserunners into scoring with a groundout to the right side of the infield before Daniel Gardner reached on catcher’s interference, allowing Crosby to score from third.
Nile Ball recorded a no-decision in his first pro start after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out a career-high five over four innings. Darin May retired seven of the eight batters he faced, two via strikeouts, in 2.1 scoreless innings of relief while Jack Alkire tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief in his first appearance of the series.
Gary concludes their nine-game, 10-day homestand on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. vs. Fargo-Moorhead. RailCats’ left-hander Trevor Lubking (5-8, 4.30) makes his league-high 19th start against RedHawks’ right-hander Ryan Williams (5-1, 2.49) in the series finale.
Thursday’s game is Lake County Public Night and another Gerber Collision & Glass Thursday and Thirsty Thursday. Visit any Northwest Indiana Gerber Collision & Glass location for complimentary tickets to any Thursday RailCats game and enjoy our domestic drafts, select premium drafts, and hot dogs for $1.50, $3.00 and $1.00, 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.