Rosemont, IL – The Gary SouthShore RailCats (38-55) ended the Chicago Dogs’ (52-41) nine-game winning streak thanks to a 4-1 series-opening victory Tuesday night at Impact Field.
Julio Vivas started for the ‘Cats and tapped into the dominance that won him the American Association Pitcher of the Week Award for the week of August 13th. After allowing an unearned run in the first frame, he retired 12 straight Dogs batters and did not allow a hit from the second to the sixth inning. In total, he lasted six innings, permitting just that one unearned run, permitting just two hits and one walk while striking out seven in a winning effort.
The Gary SouthShore offense surged to back him up. As the second batter of the game, Francisco Del Valle tripled into the right-center field gap, setting the RailCats up in prime position. The right fielder scored on a wild pitch to provide the RailCats an early 1-0 advantage.
The Dogs scored in the home half of the first to make it a tie game at a run apiece, but the RailCats utilized the long ball to take command.
Jesus Marriaga singled with one out in the fourth for his second hit of the game. With two outs, LG Castillo connected on a two-run home run, a towering blast to left field which raced the ‘Cats in front, 3-1.
The power surge continued an inning later. Jose Contreras led off the frame with a no-doubt, opposite-field home run that cleared the right field bleachers, extending the lead to three at 4-1.
After Vivas departed, the RailCats bullpen took the baton and went the rest of the way. Joan Valdez continued his stellar month of August by tossing a scoreless seventh inning, striking out two Chicago hitters. The outing lowered his earned run average this month to 1.76 in 11 appearances.
Jack Eisenbarger followed suit in the eighth before DJ Wilkinson slammed the door and picked up his 12th save to launch the ‘Cats back into the win column.
The RailCats return to Impact Field tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. for the middle game of their three-game series against the Dogs. 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.
