The RailCats offense exploded for four runs in the first inning and Alain Quijano held Kansas City to a run in five innings in the RailCats 8-1 win over the T-Bones on Saturday night. The win was the 850th in Greg Tagert’s managerial career. Gary has won five of six to improve to 6-3 and they remain in first place in the Central Division.
The RailCats offense erupted in the first inning, scoring four runs on five hits and sending nine men to the plate against T-Bones starter Brian Murphy. Mike Massaro hit an RBI triple to left, Drew Martinez had a run-scoring single and Zac Mitchell walked with the bases loaded. Another run scored on a wild pitch.
In the second inning, Massaro hit a one-out double and Cristian Guerrero followed with a two-run blast to left, the RailCats first home run of the season. The all-time franchise leader now has 59 career home runs as a member of the RailCats.
Craig Maddox scorched a triple to right-center in the fourth, scoring Guerrero to make it 7-0. The T-Bones scored their lone run in the bottom of the inning, as Devin Goodwin hit a line drive to center that scooted past Martinez for a triple, scoring Ray Sadler.
In the fifth, Adam Klein hit a two-out RBI single to increase the lead to 8-1. He has a team-leading eight RBI and is 4-for-8 with five RBI with men in scoring position and two outs.
RailCats starter Alain Quijano (2-0) delivered his second consecutive terrific outing, holding the T-Bones to a run on four hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out five. In his last two starts, Quijano has held the opposition to one run in 11 frames.
The RailCats bullpen combination of Taylor Sewitt, Mike Hanley, Ian Durham and Marco Gonzalez held the T-Bones scoreless over the final four innings. The bullpen has thrown 14 consecutive scoreless frames and has not allowed a run since Monday against Wichita.
Massaro, Guerrero, Maddox and Martinez each had two hits for the RailCats and Guerrero scored three times.
Tagert’s career record over 18 seasons now sits at 850-688, good for a .553 winning percentage.
The RailCats will go for the sweep on Sunday night at 7:05. Southpaw Ari Ronick (1-1, 4.09) will pitch for the ‘Cats against T-Bones right-hander Aaron Tullo (1-0, 8.44).
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