Charle Rosario entered Saturday night’s contest against the St. Paul Saints looking to win his third ballgame in a row. The right-hander has been brilliant ever since he joined the Gary Southshore RailCats, winning 12 games in each of his first two seasons, and he looks well on his way to another double-digit year, especially after hamstringing the Saints for 8-innings, as the RailCats staked their starter to a four-run lead before hanging on for a 4-3 victory.

After a scoreless first-inning, Gary Southshore took the lead in the top of the second against St. Paul starter Ryan Zimmerman. The Saints starter retired the first two batters of the inning, but Ryan Fitzgerald kept the inning alive with the double into centerfield. That brought John Holland to the plate, who singled up the middle to score Fitzgerald and give Gary Southshore the 1-0 lead.

In the next inning, the lead would become three. Reggie Wilson singled into right field with one out, and Colin Willis then beat out a single to short to put two on. Two batters later Andy DeJesus drew a walk to load the bases. James Alfonso then delivered a clutch two out single into left field, scoring Wilson and another run would come home on an error to make it 3-0.

In the fifth, the RailCats added an additional insurance run that proved to be the deciding factor in the game. Willis started the inning by doubling into right field, and scored when Frank Martinez singled up the middle. That made it 4-0 and it looked like the visitors were in complete command.

However, in the bottom of the fifth, St. Paul would respond and leave the frame trailing by just one. Back-to-back singles by Anthony Gallas and Tony Thomas started the inning against Rosario and Kes Carter, who had just been acquired by the Saints earlier that day, followed with his first home run of the season to make the score 4-3.

Following the homerun, Rosario buckled down and dominated the Saints batting order. He gave up just one hit over his next four innings of work, and was given the opportunity for the complete-game. He came out in the ninth, but after giving up back-to-back singles the RailCats starter’s night was over. Charle Rosario (4-3) went 8-innings, allowing 7-hits and 3-runs, while striking out 8.

With the tying run at second base, Gary Southshore turned to Drasen Johnson to close it out. He struck out Gallas and Thomas before getting Carter to fly out to close out the game. That gave Johnson his third save the season.

Colin Willis was the hitting star for Gary Southshore on the night, going 3-5 with 2-runs scored. Kes Carter led the Saints offense with a run-scored and 3-RBI.

The rubber match of this three-game series is Sunday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier