Home runs from Alec Olund and Michael Woodworth propelled the Gary SouthShore RailCats (37-56) to their first sweep of the year with an 8-5 victory over the Winnipeg Goldeyes (47-44) who, with the series finale loss, are all but eliminated from playoff contention.
Olund and Woodworth tacked on two hits and three RBI apiece in the game three victory as the RailCats won their fourth straight game to tie the ‘Cats longest winning streak in 2021. Olund drove in 10 runs in the series with the three RBIs in the Sunday win.
RailCats’ starter John Sheaks earned his first professional win with six innings, allowing 11 hits and five runs, four of which earned, no walks and three strikeouts.
Despite the loss, Winnipeg would open the game with three runs in the first frame. Deon Stafford delivered his first of two singles on the day as he drove home a pair to take the early lead. Two batters later, Logan Hill would bring home Stafford and the Goldeyes were on top 3-0 headed to the bottom of the first.
In the bottom of the first, Tom Walraven drew a two-out walk to keep the inning alive, and then Walraven and Lingua completed a text-book double steal to advance into scoring position with Olund at the plate. A pitch later, Olund blooped a single into left center to cut the lead back to one at 3-2 after the opening inning.
An inning later, Billy Cooke drove two runs in on a two-out, two-RBI single to left as the RailCats took the 4-3 lead and never looked back.
Olund would belt his fifth home run of the year with two down in the third inning, his second homer of the series, as the RailCats grew their lead 5-3.
Winnipeg would slice the deficit to just one with a run in the top of the sixth inning, but in the ensuing half inning, Woodworth crushed a three-run homer to put the ‘Cats on top 8-4.
Tasker Strobel earned his seventh save of the season and the RailCats earned the series sweep despite five Goldeyes with multi-hit efforts including Kevin Lachance who went 3-for-4 on Sunday and 6-for-12 in the series.
After a day off tomorrow, the Gary SouthShore RailCats kick off their final road trip of the season on Tuesday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. against the Kane County Cougars at Northwestern Medicine Field.