Despite receiving their longest start of the season, the Gary SouthShore RailCats (31-41) fell 3-2 to the Sioux City Explorers (38-35) Friday night at The Steel Yard.
John Sheaks got the ball for the ‘Cats and shined. The right-hander tossed eight stellar innings, allowing just three runs. Sheaks retired the last seven batters he faced.
The Explorers scored their lone three runs on run-scoring outs in the fourth and fifth.
Just like the day before, the ‘Cats offense came to life in the sixth. Trailing 3-0, Gio Díaz began the rally with a single into center field. Jackson Valera then ripped a double into the right field corner to get the RailCats on the board. The next batter, Jesus Marriaga, promptly lined a single into left center, scoring Valera to bring Gary SouthShore within one, 3-2.
The score remained the same headed the ninth as Julio Vivas entered from the bullpen, the lone pitcher to relieve Sheaks. He proceeded to fire a 1-2-3 frame to maintain the one-run deficit.
However, the Explorers countered with a three-up, three-down inning of their own in the bottom of the ninth, locking down the series-opening win.
The RailCats aim to even the series with the Explorers at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow. All the action will be streamed on www.aabaseball.tv and broadcast over the radio on 95.9 WEFM and the Gary SouthShore RailCats Broadcast Network via the Mixlr app.
