The RailCats dropped their third straight game by losing 6-3 in game 1 against the best team in the West, the Winnipeg Goldeyes. This game was moving along quickly until the 6th inning, when the RailCats’ bullpen gave up 3 runs on 5 walks and a hit batter. However, we did see some power from the RailCats and really good defense.
1. The RailCats had to sign five players from the Black Sox organization to fill their roster since seven players didn’t make the trip to Winnipeg. Those players were Andres Diaz, Marcos Gonzalez, Franklin Perez, Guillermo Quintana, Carlos Rincon, Carlos Sanabria, and Miguel Sierra.
2. Casey Grimm took the mound for the RailCats and he wasn’t even supposed to start; it was Ethan Hankins who was scheduled to start. This was Casey’s first start in over a year. He went longer than I expected, pitching 5 innings. He made it to the 6th, but after a walk to Dayson Croes, he was in line for the win, but his bullpen mates didn’t help him out. Casey went 5 innings, gave up 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts.
3. In the 5th inning, Anthony Abbatine made another Sports Center catch by leaving his feet and going airborne for a diving catch to rob Mile Simington of a multi-base RBI hit.
4. Winnipeg got on the board first in the first after Mike Simington doubled to score Ramon Bramasco.
5. At the top of the 6th, the RailCats trailed by 2. After Basabe doubled and starting pitcher Joey Matulovich was taken out, things got a little interesting. Tasker Strobel came in for relief and gave up a single to LG Castillo. Then, on a 2-1 count, Jose Contreras hit a 3-run opposite field home run to lift the RailCats to a 3-2 lead. That was Contreras’ 12th home run of the year.
6. The lead was short-lived as the Goldeyes would retake the lead in the bottom of the 6th. They would score 3 runs on 0 hits, 5 walks, and a hit batter. After Grimm gave up the walk to Croes, Hunter Treece would make his RailCats debut. It was short-lived; he would walk Anderson, get McMurray to fly out, Arroyo would get hit by a pitch, and Croes would score on a Lynch ground out to Howard Rodriguez. That run was charged to Grimm, and the game would be tied. Denson Hull would come into the game with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd. Hull would walk Bramasco, loading the bases, and Anderson and Arroyo would score on back-to-back bases loaded walks.
7. RailCats Pitching Staff gave up 8 walks, but 6 came from the 3 bullpen guys, and half of those came from Hull. Hunter Treece was handed the loss, but really the loss should have gone to Hull since he came in with 2 outs.
8. The RailCats offense had 8 hits, scored 3 runs, had 2 walks, and struck out 14 times. This team has struggled all year to score runs, and this series won’t be any easier as Winnipeg has one of the best pitching staffs in the league.
9. Standout players were Anthony Abbatine going 2 for 4 and being a human highlight reel, LG Castillo going 2 for 4 with a run scored, and Jose Contreras going 1 for 4 with 3 RBIs, a home run, and also playing a very good 1st base tonight.
10. The RailCats’ defense really kept this game close. Anthony Abbatine’s diving catch saved a run, Basasbe ended the 4th with a beautiful bare-handed catch and throw. Jose Contreras made a really nice diving play, and LG Castillo had a nice heads-up play when Jake McMurray hit a fly ball to Castillo and Nick Anderson went flying to 2nd and couldn’t get back to 1st in time.
Innings that had scoring in them
The 1st: Winnipeg scores 1
The 2nd Winnipeg scored 2
The 6th The Railcats scored 3, Winnipeg scored 3
The 7th Winnipeg scored 3
Final score: RailCats 3 Goldeyes 6
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