Just two days following the thirteenth inning Raymond Jones’ walk-off, the Gary SouthShore RailCats (2-3) repeated suit against the Houston Apollos (1-4) as Jesus Marriaga roped a single into center in the bottom of the thirteenth frame on Saturday to plate Zach Welz for another ‘Cats walk-off.
There was never a question of if there would be a hero, but rather who the hero would be. Marriaga, who went 4-for-6 with two RBI, stepped up to the plate in crunch time and dealt the win to Gary SouthShore in extras. Marriaga is just the third player in the American Association this season with a four-hit game.
Marriaga wasn’t the sole hero of the night. A tremendous relief outing from left-handed pitcher Cole Cook earned him a standing ovation as he finished the night with 7 innings of work out of the pen. Cook allowed just one earned run on five hits, issuing eight strikeouts with one walk.
RailCats’ starter Trevor Lubking was exceptional on the bump as well. Lubking delivered 6 innings of one-hit baseball, allowing five hits while striking out eight Apollos en route to a no decision.
Both Zach Welz and Nikola Vasic recorded three hits apiece and each came across the plate twice in the win. Welz also reached base twice in the game after he was hit by a pitch, including in the final frame to set the table for Marriaga.
Alex Marithew suffered the loss after four innings of one-run pitching, conceding five hits and four walks while striking out three.
Houston’s Nick Anderson led the charge in the opposing dugout with a 3-for-6 day at the dish while it was Hudson Bilodeau who tied things up in the ninth on a solo blast to send it to extras. Bilodeau had two hits in the evening.
The series finale between the Gary SouthShore RailCats and the Houston Apollos will be played out tomorrow, May 23 at 2:10 p.m. to determine the series’ winner.