RailCats Lose 4-3

23-39

6th in the East 

1. Today was the first time that I have gone to back-to-back games where neither team has hit a home run. That was due to the wind that was still blowing in from left field. I know Yanio Perez got robbed of 2 home runs today because the ball would start to go straight up and come back down toward the infield.

2. I do want to shout out teachers, daycare workers, and people who take care of special needs children. I’m not a parent, but I can’t imagine the stress and amount of patience it takes to watch over 20 kids, make sure everyone is safe, and try to protect them from foul balls. It’s nice to see kids at the ballpark enjoying a baseball game, even if some don’t fully understand it.

3. Franklin Perez was the starting pitcher for the RailCats for his second start of the year. He went 5 innings, gave up 8 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), walked 1, and struck out one. This was the longest he has pitched this year, and aside from the 1st inning error, he really should have given up 3 runs. I can start to see the confidence building within Franklin, and he is starting to put together good outings.

4. The Dockhounds would score 1 run in the 1st inning. Blake Tiberi would be the first hit and base runner of the game when he hit a triple down the right field line. He almost pushed for an inside-the-park home run, but a solid throw by LG Castillo prevented that. Marek Chlup would walk. Josh Altmann grounded a ball back to Franklin, who had the time and awareness to look back Tiberi to 3rd, then throw the ball to Sierra to get Chlup out but couldn’t get the double play. Ryan Hernandez would single and Tiberi would score. Sims had a SAC bunt that went back to Franklin, who made a nice backhand grab and throw over to 1st. On a side note, I really like Franklin as a defensive pitcher; he seems to understand the game and situations on top of trying to pitch to the batter. Ray Zuberer would hit a ball to Howard Rodriguez, who has been very solid at 2nd, and Rodriguez just fumbled the ball, allowing Altmann to score instead of being out. The Dockhounds would lead 2-0

5. The RailCats would answer with 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the 1st. Howard Rodriguez would walk, and Gio Diaz would hit a single to extend his hit streak to 5 games. Olivier Basabe would drive in Rodriguez after a double. Yanio Perez would strike out, LG Castillo, the Birthday Boy, would tie the game on a fielder’s choice allowing Diaz to score. Francisco Del Valle would help the RailCats take the lead with a sac fly to center allowing Basabe to score. RailCats would lead 3-2

6. The Dockhounds would tie the game in the 4th when Cesar Izturis Jr. would hit a ball to José Contreras who was playing for Valera. Contreras would try to turn the double play to end the inning by throwing the ball to Sierra, but Cesar was too quick and the play was slow moving, allowing Demetrius Sims to score. The game would be tied at 3

7. Jackson Valera did not play today and had his left forearm wrapped up. He was still in the dugout but did not participate in any warm-ups. Jose Contreras played 3rd, and he went 1-3 with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.

8. In the 5th, the Dockhounds would retake and hold the lead when Ryan Hernandez nailed the ball off the 3rd base bag, bouncing over Basabe and allowing Altmann to score. Altmann scored from 2nd. Some may say that he shouldn’t have scored, but the way that ball bounced and where it landed, plus Altmann’s sneaky good speed, it would have been a tough play to get him at home. The Dockhounds would win the game 4-3.

9. Joan Valdez came in for the 7th inning for a relief appearance. He would get Jared Fry to fly out to Del Valle in foul territory. But Blake Tiberi would hit a ball back to Valdez that bounced right before him, and the ball went underneath his glove, hitting Valdez. I believe it hit him in the chin, but I can’t be 100% positive. He would be down for a couple of minutes but would walk off the field, aided by Jose Contreras.

10. With the RailCats losing game 4, they have lost the series 3 games to 1 and are now on a 3-game losing streak. They are 4.5 games back of the Dockhounds for 5th place and 8.5 games back from a playoff spot. The RailCats are now heading to Kane County for 3 games before the All-Star break. The Cougars are 34-26 and 2 games back of 1st place in the East.