GARY, IN. 9-2-2010

The RailCats locked up a spot in the postseason in anticlimactic fashion when Winnipeg beat Rockford 15-2 earlier in the night to start what was scheduled to be a doubleheader, but the ‘Cats bats celebrated in record fashion by pounding out 21 hits, including nine for extra bases, in the history-making shutout.  The RailCats had never won a game by more than 12 runs before Thursday – doing so four times, most recently July 30 of this season in Joliet (12-0) – and the 15 runs matched the highest output by the RailCats offense this year.

Tickets to see the RailCats in the postseason are on sale now at U. S. Steel Yard or by calling 219.882.2255.  Great giveaways and discounts are included in each of the first two RailCats home playoff games, which will be either Wednesday, September 8 – Thursday, September 9 or Friday, September 10 – Sunday, September 12 (Saturday and Sunday games if necessary).  For more information on playoff tickets, visit www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Thursday night, the RailCats took a 2-0 lead in the first and would need nothing more behind a second straight strong starting pitching performance, this time from Brad Halsey (7-7).  Mike Massaro started a four-hit game with a double in the RailCats first and he scored on a Tanner Townsend triple down the right field line.  Jeff Beachum would drive Townsend in with a base hit and the high-flying RailCats were off and running.

An error allowed two more RailCats runs to score in the second and Cristian Guerrero drove in the sixth RailCats run in the fourth, closing the book on Schaumburg starter Ryan Gehring (3-11) who allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks in 3.2 innings.

Already ahead 6-0, the RailCats tacked on a run in the fifth when Adam Klein singled home Mike Reese, who had doubled, and Guerrero started a wooly sixth inning with a mammoth home run to center.  The blast was Guerrero’s third in as many games and extended his single-season team record to 19, and the homer also moved Guerrero past Townsend and into first place on the RailCats all-time career home run list with 46.

Later in the sixth inning, Schaumburg’s Aaron Guinn hit John Parham and Klein with back-to-back pitches, prompting RailCats Manager Greg Tagert and Schaumburg Manager Mike Busch to have a heated argument behind home plate while both benches emptied.  No one was ejected following the skirmish in the sixth, but Busch and pitcher Cody Evans were ejected in the eighth when Parham was again hit by a pitch after warnings were given to both dugouts.

The RailCats capped their huge offensive night with a seven-run eighth inning, getting four doubles in the frame and putting the first six runners on base.  Most of the damage was done against Flyers closer Brian McCullough, who was forced into the game after Evans’ ejection.

While the offense was roaring, Halsey was rolling and earned his seventh win of the year.  The former Major Leaguer went 6.0 innings and allowed just five hits, walking two and striking out four.  The performance lowered Halsey’s ERA to 3.82 – eighth best in the league – and pushed his ERA since August 1 to a sparkling 3.18 over seven starts.

Reese and Massaro each had four hit games, with Massaro going 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, two RBI and three runs scored.  Massaro’s four hits give him 115 on the year, matching Jay Pecci’s single-season RailCats record.  Reese had two doubles during his four-hit day, and Guerrero and Beachum each had three hits.  All nine RailCats starters had at least one hit and seven different ‘Cats drove in runs.

The RailCats (51-45) close out the regular season on the road, starting a four-game series with the playoff-bound Joliet JackHammers (50-46) Friday night at 7:10 p.m. at Silver Cross Field.  The game will be broadcast as a web only stream Friday night at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Notes: The 2010 season will be the sixth straight for the RailCats with an over-.500 season under Manager Greg Tagert … the two four-hit games Thursday mark the 15^th and 16^th four-hit games by a RailCat this year.  There has not been a five-hit game … RailCats starters have tossed 16.1 straight scoreless innings over the last three games.

GARY, IN. 9-2-2010

Tickets are on sale now for the first home game on either September 8 or September 10 and will cost $11 for box seats and $10 for reserved with groups of 20 or more receiving a $2 discount per ticket. The first home game for the RailCats will be a Times Family Day. Find the coupon in The Times and bring it to the ballpark to receive four box seat tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for only $40. There will also be giveaways on this day as the RailCats will be handing out baseball gloves to the first 400 kids 12 and under to enter U. S. Steel Yard courtesy NIEMI Associates and The Times Media Company, in addition to rally towels awarded to the first 1000 fans. The second home game will include a t-shirt giveaway for the first 400 kids, courtesy Strack & Van Til and The Post-Tribune.

The RailCats enter the playoffs looking to advance to a sixth consecutive Northern League Championship series and capture the franchise’s third Northern League Championship. To purchase tickets call the RailCats at 219.822.2255 or visit www.railcatsbaseball.com.

GARY, IN. 9-1-2010

One night after hitting his RailCats single-season record 17^th home run in his final at bat, Guerrero took Brett Harker deep on a 3-1 pitch in his first at bat Wednesday.  After Mike Massaro had singled with one out and a hustling Mike Rohde beat out an infield hit with two down, Guerrero rocketed his 18^th homer of the season over the First Midwest Bank Catwalk in left to put the ‘Cats in front 3-0.  The home run was also Guerrero’s 45^th in his RailCats career, tying Tanner Townsend’s all-time mark.

Those three runs were plenty for Glen (11-2) in just the latest start of a dominating season.  The right-hander allowed just five singles in eight scoreless frames to lower his ERA to 2.39, easily the best among all Northern League starting pitchers.  Glen struck out a pair to improve his league-best total to 110 and left after throwing 103 pitches.  Glen is 10-0 in his last 15 starts and did not allow an earned run for the eighth time in 20 starts this year.

Possibly the Flyers best scoring chance came in the very first inning when Ruddy Yan walked and got around to third with one out on a wild pitch and John Parham throwing error.  Moments later, Kit Pellow lifted a fly ball to shallow left and Parham atoned for his earlier miscue by snagging Guerrero’s throw home and diving across the plate to tag out Yan.  That double play was the first of three turned by the RailCats defense.

Schaumburg did finally crack the scoreboard in the ninth against RailCats closer Andy Shipman.  With runners at second and third and two outs, Chris Schultz singled off Shipman’s glove to drive in one before Jeff Brooks flied out to deep center to end the game.  Shipman gave up three hits in the ninth but did pick up his league-leading 20^th save of the year.

Each team had eight hits Wednesday as the ‘Cats got two from Chris Carrara – batting in the leadoff spot for the first time all year – and two hits from Mike Rohde – batting cleanup for the first time.  Joey Gomes went 3-for-4 to lead the Flyers attack.  Harker took the loss despite allowing only two hits in five innings after Guerrero’s home run.

The RailCats can clinch their sixth straight playoff berth Thursday with either a win over the Flyers or a loss from Rockford in one of two games of a doubleheader against Winnipeg.  The Goldeyes and RiverHawks were rained out Wednesday night at Road Ranger Stadium.

The RailCats (50-45) and Flyers (39-57) close out the season series Thursday night at 7 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard.  The RailCats will send left-hander Brad Halsey (6-7, 4.01 ERA) to the hill against Flyers southpaw Ryan Gehring (3-10, 4.94 ERA).  Thursday’s game will be carried exclusively as an online stream at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Thursday night is the final RailCats home game of the regular season and as a thank you to the best fans in the Northern League, the RailCats are giving away buy-one, get-one free tickets to all fans.  It’s Fan Appreciation Night, after all, and the RailCats will also have innumerable giveaways and prizes for fans, plus a post-game Fireworks Show from First Midwest Bank and the Post-Tribune.  Tickets are on sale by calling 219.882.2255 or stopping by the Box Office after 10 a.m.

Notes: The RailCats now have 50 wins, marking the sixth straight year of at least 50 win under sixth-year Manager Greg Tagert … the win also guarantees the RailCats at least a .500 season … Adam Klein did not start Wednesday’s game, snapping a streak of 85 consecutive starts (dating back to May 28).  Klein did enter the game in the eighth as a defensive replacement and has played in all 95 RailCats games this year, matching a team record … Schaumburg Manager Mike Busch was ejected in the fifth inning for arguing a balk call.

The event will take place at 420 S. Calumet Rd. in Chesterton Indiana from 4pm to 7pm with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30pm. Hors d’ouevres will be available as well as tastes from their exclusive wine selection, a wide range of balsamics and olive oils, fine breads, import cheeses, Lucrezia marinara and other dishes to go, and preservative-free deli meats by Boars Head.

Good to Go by Lucrezia is a deli, specialty market, tasting emporium specializing in Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars, a wine and craft beer shop, and has a selection of eats from neighboring Lucrezia Café to go.

Michael and Nada Karas, owners of Lucrezia Café, owned the building and decided to completely renovate the shop to create a deli unique to the area. For more information, please contact store manager, Joyce Stauffer, at 219.926.EVOO (3866).

GARY, IN. 8-31-2010

After the Flyers scored runs in the first and third innings, the RailCats rallied for one in the fifth, two in the sixth, four in the seventh and one in the eighth to win for just the third time in their last 10 games.  The win, coupled with a Rockford win over Winnipeg, only shrunk the RailCats magic number by one but did officially eliminate the Goldeyes from playoff contention.  The ‘Cats will clinch a postseason berth with a win Wednesday and a Rockford loss.

With Schaumburg leading 2-0 the game reached its first major turning point in the fourth when the Flyers loaded the bases with no one out against RailCats starter Nolan Nicholson.  Monday night’s 12^th inning hero Chris Schultz popped out to second for the first out of the inning before the RailCats forced a run at the plate on a Ruddy Yan grounder and Travis Brown grounded out sharply to third to end the inning.

From there, the game was all RailCats starting with two outs in the fifth when Mike Reese and Tanner Townsend drew back-to-back walks before Randall Simon singled to center to score a run, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.  The ‘Cats would take the lead for the first time with two outs in the sixth when Reese reached on a ground ball single to shortstop to push in the tying run and Adam Klein scored moments later on a wild pitch.

The game broke open in a wild seventh that saw the ‘Cats score four times on just one hit thanks to four Flyers errors. Simon reached on a fielding error to start the inning and went to second on a one-out Jay Pecci base hit.  Both runners advanced on a wild pitch from Tom Lyons before John Parham hit a ground ball that went by Ron Bourquin into left for a two-run error.  Klein followed Parham with a check swing roller in front of the plate that pitcher Tom Thornton threw into right to score two more runs and build the lead to 7-2.

The ‘Cats added icing in the eighth as Cristian Guerrero made RailCats history when he drilled an Aaron Guinn offering over the left field wall for his 17^th home run of the year, breaking his own franchise record, set in 2008.  Guerrero’s solo homer was his first since August 16 and the 44^th of his three-year RailCats career, one behind Townsend’s career record.  In his three RailCats seasons, Guerrero occupies first (17, 2010), second (16, 2008) and sixth (11, 2009) on the RailCats single-season home run chart.

Nicholson, the RailCats starter, allowed just three hits over five innings but walked five and was charged with two runs.  Jeff Williams (2-3) fired two perfect innings to earn the win and Chris Chavez worked a scoreless eighth and ninth – thanks to a pair of double plays – to close out the game.  Alain Quijano (5-9) started for Schaumburg and had a night similar to Nicholson’s, allowing six hits and six walks in five innings and taking the loss by getting tagged with three of the RailCats eight runs.

The RailCats out-hit Schuamburg 9-5, with Reese and Simon each recording a pair of hits.  Mario Delgado went 2-for-3 to lead the Flyers who committed five errors in total.

The RailCats (49-45) and Flyers (39-56) continue their series Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard.  Willie Glen (10-2, 2.62 ERA) is scheduled to start for the ‘Cats opposite right-hander Brett Harker (8-8, 5.12 ERA) and the Flyers.  The game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Wednesday is Football Night at The Steel Yard, with former Chicago Bears greats Kevin Butler and Bobby Douglass slated to appear and sign autographs for fans before the game.  The RailCats will also be giving away $2,000 in total cash to the first 1,000 fans on a Money Giveaway, sponsored by NIEMI Associates, and it’s the last Wet Your Whistle Wednesday of the season, with $2 MGD and Miller Lite drafts on sale for fans 21 and over.  Tickets can be purchase by calling 219.882.2255 of visiting the U. S. Steel Yard Box Office after 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Notes: Guerrero’s home run was the first by a RailCat since August 25 in Kansas City … the benches emptied after Ott ran into Flyers catcher Dylan Parzyk in the sixth inning trying to jar the ball loose at home plate but the confrontation did not escalate any further … with a win Wednesday, the RailCats can clinch their sixth straight 50-win season under Manager Greg Tagert and sixth straight .500 or better campaign … the eight runs mark the RailCats highest offensive output since August 15.

The loss kept the RailCats magic number to clinch a sixth straight playoff berth at three and was the ‘Cats seventh loss in their last nine games.  The RailCats had very few scoring chances Monday, recording only one hit after the fifth inning – Flyers pitching retired 15 in a row at one point – and needing their own herculean relief effort to keep the game tied.

In the decisive 12^th, James Baker (2-5) struck out the first two hitters before walking Bourquin on a 3-2 pitch.  Schultz lined the second pitch he saw into the right field corner and the relay throw from Chris Carrara was just a little late at home plate.  The RailCats went down in order in the bottom of the inning as Brian McCullough struck out two to earn his fifth save.

All of the game’s regulation scoring was done early, with the Flyers taking a 1-0 lead on a Schultz RBI single in the second.  The RailCats would come back with runs in the third – on an Adam Klein base hit – and fourth to take a 2-1 lead before Kit Pellow launched a two-run fifth inning homer against Zeb Engle.  The RailCats would tie the game quickly in the bottom of the fifth when Tanner Townsend singled Mike Massaro in from second.

The RailCats, however, would not record another hit after Townsend’s single before Randall Simon doubled with one out in the 11^th.  The ‘Cats would eventually load the bases in the inning before Cody Evans (3-6) got Chris Carrara to pop out and end the threat.

Evans was part of an excellent Schaumburg relief effort, tossing three scoreless innings and allowing only the one hit and two walks.  Joshua Giles was even better in front of Evans, retiring all eight batters he faced, four on strikeouts.  Four Flyers relievers combined to allow only three hits in 8.0 innings of work after spot started Matt Elliott went the first four innings.

The RailCats bullpen was also solid following Pellow’s home run, as Engle, Aaron Cook, Brad Furnish, Andy Shipman and Baker bridged the game into the 12^th.  Andy Weeks made the start for the RailCats and allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits in 4.1 innings.

The Flyers out-hit the RailCats 15-9 in the game and Schultz led the way going 3-for-5.  Dylan Parzyk also had three hits for Schaumburg.  John Parham and Simon each had two hits for the RailCats as Simon doubled twice to extend his hitting streak to nine games.

The RailCats (48-45) and Flyers (39-55) will meet again Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard.  Right-hander Nolan Nicholson (5-5, 4.50 ERA) will draw the start opposite Schaumburg left-hander Alain Quijano (5-8, 3.75 ERA).  The game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Tuesday is the last RailCats Kids Day of the year, with hot dogs given away to the first 1,000 kids (age 12 and under).  It’s also a RailCats Picture Pack Giveaway at U. S. Steel Yard for the first 1,000 fans thanks to Great Lakes Orthopedics.  Tickets are available by stopping by the Box Office or calling 219.882.2255.

Notes: Mike Rohde went 0-for-4 with a walk, ending a streak of 15 straight starts with at least one hit … Klein and Massaro each had one hit and both now have 110 hits on the season becoming the fifth and sixth RailCats ever to notch at least 110 hits in a season … the RailCats and Flyers have split the season series 6-6 with three games remaining.

GARY, IN. 8-29-2010

Joliet won two of three in the series to take over third place in the Northern League standings, one half-game ahead of the RailCats although the teams are tied in the loss column.  The defeat for the RailCats was their sixth in the last eight games and marked the third straight series loss for the ‘Cats.  The RailCats magic number to clinch a sixth straight playoff berth remains at four following the loss, pending the outcome of tonight’s Kansas City-Rockford game.

Bay (9-5) out-dueled RailCats veteran Brad Halsey (6-7) Sunday, although both pitchers threw the ball well.  Halsey gave up only four hits in seven innings but was charged with four earned runs, while the RailCats collected 10 hits against Bay but managed to score just once in eight innings.  Bay improved to 2-0 against the RailCats this year with a 0.78 ERA and struck out nine in Sunday’s game to get within one strikeout of league-leader Willie Glen.

Joliet got started scoring right away with Josh Flores doubling off the wall in left to lead off the game.  After a sacrifice bunt moved Flores to third, Brad Correll lifted a fly ball to center to make the score 1-0.  Halsey would not allow another hit until the fifth – setting down eight in a row at one  point – before Flores struck again with a two-out RBI single in that fifth inning.  Freddie Thon hit an opposite field home run against Halsey in the sixth and the ‘Hammers scraped out another run in the seventh on a fielder’s choice ground ball.

In total, Halsey gave up the four runs on four hits and did walk five, but Joliet stranded only three runners on base in seven innings against the RailCats starter.  Halsey took the loss despite going seven innings for the fifth start in a row and picking up five strikeouts.

The JackHammers blew out to an 8-0 lead on the strength of home runs by Jon Nelson and Chris Colton in the eighth off Jeff Williams before the ‘Cats started on the comeback trail.  Cristian Guerrero, Randall Simon and Tanner Townsend strung together three straight two out hits in the eighth to push the first run across and the ‘Cats loaded the bases with no one out in the ninth.  But Griffin Bailey would recover to get the final three outs in a row while the ‘Cats scored two cosmetic ninth inning runs.

The RailCats stranded 10 men on base, leaving double-digit runners on for the third straight game, and out-hit Joliet 12-8.  Townsend went 4-for-4 to lead all hitters while Colton drove in three runs and scored two others for Joliet.

The RailCats (48-44) start their final home series of the regular season Monday night at 7 p.m. when the Schaumburg Flyers (38-55) come to town.  Left-hander Andy Weeks (1-1, 5.66 ERA) will start for the ‘Cats and the game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Monday night’s contest is the final NIEMI Associates Dollar Monday of the regular season, with great one dollar deals throughout the park.  Plus, when fans buy one ticket the second costs just a buck!  The RailCats will also give away the official Team Photo of the 2010 team to the first 2,000 fans Monday night, courtesy Hoosier Bat Company.  Gates open at 6 p.m. and tickets are available by calling 219.882.2255 or stopping by the Box Office at U. S. Steel Yard.

Notes: The RailCats left 35 runners on base in the three-game series, scoring only 11 runs … the RailCats lost four of six games at U. S. Steel Yard against the ‘Hammers this year but the season series is tied 5-5.  The two teams will meet again September 3-6 at Silver Cross Field in the last four games of the regular season … all 12 of the RailCats hits Sunday were singles as were all but three of the RailCats 32 base hits in the series.

GARY, IN. 8-28-2010

In a game that for the second night in a row featured 20-plus combined runners left on base, the RailCats put the leadoff man on in the ninth when Erik Hamren (0-2) walked Massaro.  One batter later, Joliet third baseman Brad Correll came charging in from third with Jay Pecci at bat and showing bunt.  At the last moment, Pecci pulled the bunt back and slapped a single past Correll and into left to push runners to first and second.  That brought Guerrero to the plate and Griffin Bailey in from the bullpen, and Guerrero lined his second pitch for the winning hit.

The win vaulted the RailCats back over Joliet and into third place by one half game in the Northern League standings and, combined with an earlier Rockford loss, shrunk the RailCats magic number to four to clinch a sixth straight playoff berth.  The win was just the RailCats second in their last seven games and was the ‘Cats sixth walk-off win of the season, three of which have come in August.

Willie Glen started for the RailCats and battled throughout, allowing just two earned runs despite seven hits and three walks.  Pitching out of trouble all night, Glen allowed leadoff singles in five of his six innings but runs in only the top of the second when Josh Flores doubled in a pair with two outs.  Glen lasted 5.2 innings Saturday, his shortest outing since June 16, but left the game with a chance for the win and extended his unbeaten streak to 14 starts.

The RailCats did all of their early scoring in the second, batting around against Joliet starter Rory Shortell.  Randall Simon walked to lead off the inning, went to second on a one-out Louis Ott single and scored a Mike Rohde base hit to center.  Ott came in one batter later when John Parham flied a double to right and the RailCats took a 3-2 lead later in the inning when Jay Pecci was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The JackHammers pushed the tying run across in the seventh when Kevin Rios and Correll collected back-to-back singles to start the inning against Chris Chavez.  Two batters later, Freddie Thon singled Rios in but Correll was cut down later on a double steal and Chavez struck out Chris Colton to escape the jam.

Andy Shipman (4-2) pitched for the first time since August 20 and worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning – the only perfect frame of the day from a RailCats pitcher – to earn the win.  Hamren was charged with the winning run despite striking out three in 1.2 innings.  Both bullpens were solid, combing to allow just two runs in 8.1 innings of work.

Joliet out-hit the RailCats 10-7 getting three hits from Thon and two each from Correll and catcher Richard Mercado.  The RailCats were more balanced, with Guerrero recording the lone two-hit game.  The RailCats stranded 12 in the win one night after leaving a season-high 13 on base while Joliet stranded 11 runners.

The RailCats (48-43) and JackHammers (48-44) close out their three-game series Sunday at 2 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard.  Left-hander Brad Halsey (6-6, 3.94 ERA) will get the call for the ‘Cats with Bear Bay (8-5, 3.38 ERA).  The game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and on the web at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Sunday is also the much-anticipated Bobble-Glove Giveaway at U. S. Steel Yard with the first 1,500 fans of all ages picking up a wobbling sequin glove on the same day the RailCats celebrate native son Michael Jackson’s birthday.  Tickets for the game are available by calling 219.882.2255 or stopping by the U. S. Steel Yard Box Office after 10 a.m., with gates scheduled to open at The Steel Yard 1 p.m.

Notes: Saturday’s hit was Guerrero’s second walk-off hit of the year following a game-winning home run June 1 vs. Winnipeg … Adam Klein walked three times in the win, the most by a RailCat this year … Saturday’s crowd was the largest of the year and first sellout of the season … the RailCats have won five of nine vs. Joliet with five games remaining between the two.

GARY, IN. 8-27-2010

The loss is the RailCats third straight and fifth in their last six games and saw the ‘Hammers pull a half game ahead of the RailCats in the race for third place in the Northern League.  The RailCats and JackHammers will play six more games before the end of the regular season, Monday, September 6.  The ‘Cats magic number to clinch a sixth straight playoff berth did shrink to seven with Rockford’s loss Friday to Kansas City.

Joliet jumped all over RailCats starter Nolan Nicholson (5-5) to get in front early.  Brad Correll notched the first of his three run-scoring hits in the first to make it 1-0, and Correll picked up another RBI in a three-run second as Joliet opened a 4-0 edge.  The JackHammer lead swelled to 6-0 in the fourth in an inning that included a pair of doubles and two run-scoring grounders, and also chased Nicholson from the game.

Nicholson lost for the second straight start by allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits in 3.1 innings.  The rookie right-hander walked two and struck out three.  James Baker and Jeff Williams followed Nicholson with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief but the RailCats offense could not get closer than four runs before Aaron Cook allowed three more Joliet tallies in the eighth.

The RailCats hit the ball fairly well against tough left-hander Todd Privett (9-4), putting runners on in every inning against him.  In the second and third the RailCats got the first two runners on but failed to score each time.  The ‘Cats finally did dent the scoreboard in the fifth when Mike Massaro singled with two outs and Jay Pecci walked.  Cristian Guerrero followed with a line drive single to make it 6-1, and a bloop Randall Simon base hit brought home another before Tanner Townsend was called out on a close play at first to end the inning.

The ‘Cats would leave at least one runner on base in every inning and did not score again until the ninth when Louis Ott’s two-out double off William Jackel cut the lead to 9-4.  Privett went 6.0 innings in the win, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and three walks.  The JackHammers were forced to use three relievers behind Privett including Brian Gartley, who was charged with the ninth inning runs.

Both the RailCats and JackHammers finished with 13 hits, with the ‘Cats getting three from Guerrero and two each from Simon, Townsend, Massaro and Ott.  Roberto Mena went 4-for-5 for Joliet and Correll finished 3-for-5 with three RBI.  Kevin Rios also drove in three runs in the win.

The RailCats (47-43) and JackHammers (48-43) will rematch Saturday night at 6 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard.  Veteran right-hander Willie Glen (10-2, 2.59 ERA) will start for the RailCats opposite Joliet’s Rory Shortell (3-8, 5.73 ERA) and the game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

The first 1,500 fans of all ages at Saturday’s game will get a free RailCats baseball, courtesy Ford Motor Company.  Tickets to the game are still available by calling 219.882.2255 or stopping by the U. S. Steel Yard Box Office after 10 a.m.

Notes: RailCats outfielder Adam Klein was ejected from the dugout after the bottom of the eighth inning by first base umpire Mike Baker.  Klein, on appeal to Baker, had been called out on strikes to end the inning … the loss was the RailCats 25^th at U. S. Steel Yard this year, guaranteeing the team will not finish with a winning home record for the first time in Manager Greg Tagert’s six-year tenure … the RailCats had previously left 13 on base July 7 of this year vs. Fargo-Moorhead … the loss drops the RailCats out of third place for the first time since August 9.