2013 Championship Series: Game Three
Gary SouthShore 7, Wichita 6
Cristian Guerrero (pictured) played a big role in helping the RailCats move within a game of their first American Association title. Gary SouthShore’s designated hitter delivered a go-ahead single in the seventh. Then, after Wichita came back to tie the score, Guerrero produced another run-scoring single in the eighth that put the RailCats on top for good. Gary SouthShore hung on for a 7-6 win to take game three in Wichita. The RailCats now hold a 2-1 series lead.
The RailCats looked like they had pulled away in the top of the seventh inning. Guerrero’s first big RBI knock sparked a three-run inning that gave Gary SouthShore a 6-3 lead. But, the Wingnuts quickly responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by Abel Nieves’ two-run, game-tying single.
In the top of the eighth, however, Guerrero came up in a big spot once again. The rally began with two outs when Adam Klein and Mike Massaro delivered back-to-back singles. That brought Guerrero to the plate and the RailCats’ number three hitter drove in Klein with a single, giving Gary SouthShore a 7-6 lead that it would not relinquish.
While Guerrero finished 3-for-5 and with two of the game’s most important RBI, Klein was also a key component in the RailCats’ victory. The leadoff hitter went 4-for-4 and scored four runs. To make the performance even more impressive, every run Klein scored was either to tie the game or give the RailCats the lead.
With the victory in game three, Gary SouthShore is only one win away from winning the American Association championship. Game four will also be played in Wichita on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.
Photo courtesy of the Gary SouthShore RailCats
