Erwin Sharp as RailCats Down RedHawks in Fargo
FARGO, ND- In game two of a three-game set at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo, ND, the Gary SouthShore RailCats (23-28) slipped past the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks (28-24) in a 4-3 victory to even up the series and set the table for a rubber match in game three.
RailCats starter Chris Erwin dealt his best outing of the season as he threw a career-high seven innings with six hits, just one run and three strikeouts. Erwin earned his first win as a RailCats’ starter in the game two victory.
In his first game back since June 15, Michael Woodworth went 3-for-4 with three singles and a ninth inning RBI that would ultimately end up being the decider.
To take an early lead, Gary SouthShore scored one in the opening frame for the second straight day.
With two on and one out in the bottom of the first, Redhawks cleanup hitter Kevin Krause laced a sharp grounder up the middle. Shortstop Tom Walraven ranged left, dove, and flipped on to second to start a 6-4-3 double play that would end the inning.
In the ensuing square, Jesus Marriaga reached on an error by the Redhawks shortstop, and leadoff man Billy Cooke roped a two-out RBI double to double the RailCats lead at 2-0 as Marriaga came around to score from first. Cooke was thrown out at third to end the frame trying to stretch his first base knock of the year into a triple.
Redhawks’ first baseman Correlle Prime doubled in a run in the third to cut the lead in half at 2-1 after three innings.
After a Tom Walraven sac-fly in the eighth and a Woodworth RBI single in the ninth, the ‘Cats entered the final square on top by three with Tasker Strobel coming into the game.
Dylan Kelly and Prime each would single in a run in the ninth to slice the RailCats lead to one, but with two on and two down, Tasker Strobel shut the door in his second save of the season.
The loss went to Austin Ver Steeg who allowed two runs, one of which earned, on two hits and two walks in three innings on the mound with four strikeouts. Redhawks starter Logan Nissen earned a no decision after six innings of two-run baseball with one earned run, five hits, and foru strikeouts.
The game three rubber match between the Gary SouthShore RailCats and the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks is scheduled for tomorrow, July 15 at 7:02 p.m. at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo, ND.
By Max Kelton, Gary SouthShore RailCats