Winnipeg, MB – The Gary SouthShore RailCats jumped out to an early lead, and their pitching made it stand up as they took down the Winnipeg Goldeyes 6-4.
After taking an early lead, four different pitchers kept the Goldeyes scoreless for the final seven innings to grab their second victory in as many days.
As they have done all series long, the RailCats offense got going early, and they erupted for four runs in the very first inning. Walks to Tom Walraven and Daniel Lingua sandwiched a Michael Woodworth single as the first three batters of the game loaded the bases, and Jesus Marriaga grounded into a fielder’s choice to plate the first run. LG Castillo doubled to tack on a second run, placing runners on second and third. Two batters later, Chris Burgess brought home two on his base hit, giving the ‘Cats a four-run cushion before the Goldeyes could even take their first swings.
When they did, though, they went right to work cutting into their newfound deficit. A hit batsman and two walks filled the bases with one out, and Raul Navarro took advantage by ripping a three-run double to bring the Goldeyes within one. However, starting pitcher Adam Heidenfelder coaxed two pop outs in three pitches to curtail the threat and keep the ‘Cats in front.
Having maintained their lead, the RailCats were quick to add back onto it in the top of the second inning. Woodworth and Alec Olund ripped singles to place runners on first and second base, and Marriaga’s double scored them both to put Gary SouthShore up 6-3.
In their next turn at-bat, the Goldeyes cut right into the Gary SouthShore advantage. A two-out double pulled them within two runs, but Heidenfelder got the next batter to ground out to halt the rally.
Even as the Goldeyes continued to get runners on base over the course of the next three innings, Heidenfelder stood tall on the mound to hold the opposition at bay. He worked around one-out hits in the third and fifth by inducing inning-ending double plays while Jackson Smith chipped in a caught stealing to set Winnipeg down in order in the fourth.
A pair of hits positioned Goldeyes with runners at second and third base with one out in the bottom of the sixth, and the RailCats turned to Aaron Phillips out of the bullpen to bail them out of trouble. As the tying run stood in scoring position, Phillips worked a groundout and a lineout to shut the Goldeyes down and maintain Gary SouthShore’s two-run edge.
From that point forward, the Gary SouthShore bullpen took control and retired each of the last Goldeyes batters to secure the win. Phillips and Josh Vincent tossed perfect innings in the seventh and eighth, and Jared Price followed suit in the ninth to earn his first save as a RailCat.
The RailCats return to Shaw Park tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. for one last contest against the Goldeyes before heading back to The Steel Yard on Tuesday. All the action will be streamed on www.aabaseball.tv, 95.9 WEFM, and the Gary SouthShore RailCats Broadcast Network through the Mixlr app.
