After dropping the first two games of their series against the Wichita Wingnuts, the Gary Southshore RailCats were looking to make a statement early, and two innings into the game that statement was heard loud and clear. Riding two huge innings, the RailCats jumped out to an 8-1 lead, and then staved off a late Wingnuts rally to win 9-6.

The Wichita Wingnuts scored first, plating a run in the top of the first against Chris Cummins.  The Gary starter gave up a double to Jayce Ray to start the game and after Ray moved to third on an error, he scored on a sacrifice fly by David Espinosa to make it 1-0 Wingnuts.

Right-hander Scott Kuzminsky had pitched well in his first two starts for Wichita, but that was not to be the case on this afternoon. With one out Zac Mitchell beat out an infield single and two batters later he scored when J.D. Pulfer lined a double to the gap to bring Mitchell all the way around from first. A single by Adam Taylor followed, plating Pulfer, and Tillman Pugh drove a hard single to center to put runners at first and second with two outs. Michael Vaughn delivered a base hit, scoring Taylor to make it 3-1.

Kuzminsky returned for the second inning, but he would not make it out of the frame. Ryan Brockett walked to lead off the bottom half of the inning and moved to second two batters later when Mitchell singled up the middle to make it first and second with one out. Drew Martinez singled to load the bases, bringing Pulfer to the plate. He ripped a single, sending Brockett home, and Taylor followed with a line drive hit up the middle to plate Mitchell to make it 5-1. A wild pitch brought Martinez into score and a sacrifice fly by Pugh brought in Pulfer. Vaughn followed with a single that brought home Taylor and Stephen Rogers singled to put runners at first and third with two outs.

That would be enough for Kuzminsky. Wingnuts manager brought in Shawn Talkington, who closed out the inning. The Gary Southshore RailCats had an 8-1 lead and Cummins was just warming up.

Following the first innings, the left-hander kept the Wingnuts off the scoreboard for the next four innings. He allowed a single base runner in each of those innings, but Wichita posed no real threat against the RailCats starter. That came to an end in the top of the sixth.

With one out, Matt Padgett fouled off five pitches to stay alive before drawing a walk. Joash Brodin doubled to move Padgett to third and T.J. Mittelstaedt hit his own double to bring both runners home. It was another big day for Mittelstaedt, who finised 1-3 with a run scored, 2 RBI and a walk. This made him 3-5 with 3 runs, 3 RBI and 4 walks in the final two games of the series.

With two runs in and Mittelstaedt at second base, Dustin Geiger delivered his fourth home run of the year to make it 8-5.

In the top of the eighth the never say die Wingnuts pulled within two runs. With two outs, Geiger delivered his fifth home run of the season, and second of the game. That made the first baseman 2-4 with 2 runs and 3 RBI.

It was getting a lot more tense that Gary fans would have liked, but the team responded to remove some of the edge. In the bottom of the eighth Al Yevoli relieved for Wichita. He gave up a single to Michael Schroeder to begin the inning and two batters later hit Mitchell. A base hit by Martinez plated Schroeder to make it a three-run lead. That would close out the scoring in the 9-6 final.

Cummins improved his record to 3-1 for the Gary Southshore RailCats, while Andy Loomis recorded his seventh save. The RailCats closer has been lights out this season, allowing just one run in 11 innings pitched. Kuzminsky (1-1) took the loss.

Gary blasted out 14 hits, with everyone but one player having at least one hit on the afternoon. Five players had at least two hits, including Martinez, who raised his average to .330.

Boxscore Provided by the American Association

By Robert Pannier