'Dogs Lose Series Opener with Gary

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Gary Southshore RailCats pulled within a game and a half of the division leading Lincoln Saltdogs with a 5-2 victory at Haymarket Park on Tuesday night. Mike Schaefer picked up his second win of the season going five innings and allowing one unearned run. Humberto Cardenas was charged with the loss, pitching five innings and letting four runs across the plate. Derek Lopez picked up his 15th save of the year throwing a scoreless ninth.

Gary put the first run on the board in the second inning. Jose Yepez started off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch from Cardenas. After a groundout moved Yepez to third, Jay Pecci picked up the RBI with a bloop single to shallow left field. David Weiner was caught in a run down and was put out by Josh Patton after Yepez scored.

Jose Yepez continued the RailCats scoring in the top of the fourth inning with a solo shot to left field. For Yepez it was his fourth homer of the season and he extended the Hammers' lead to 2-0.

The Saltdogs took advantage of the 15th error of the year by Tanner Townsend to break the shutout by Schaefer in the fourth. With two down, Pichi Balet reached on the error and he came around to score when Josh Patton doubled to the gap in right center field.

The RailCats answered right back in the next half inning scoring two run on four singles in the frame. David Weiner led-off the inning with his first hit of the night and Pecci followed with another single. Eric McNamee picked up the RBI with the third single of the inning. Pecci scored on another single to left field by Steve Hakke.

Lincoln was able to get one run back in the bottom of the sixth when they loaded the bases and chased started Mike Schaefer from the game. However the Dogs were only able to get one run when Jay Yaconetti hit an RBI single to center. Kevin Sullivan was thrown out at home plate on the play to end the Dogs threat.

The last run of the contest came in the eighth inning for the RailCats. Fehlandt Lentini doubled into right field, stole second base and scored on an RBI single by Yepez.

The Saltdogs will send out Rodney Myers (8-3) in the second game of this 10 game home stand against Gary while the RailCats will send Jamie Bennett (9-2) to the hill. Start time is 7:05 p.m.

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