The Gary SouthShore RailCats wasted no time in reminding fans what baseball at the U.S. Steel Yard is all about. Thursday night’s season opener against the Lincoln Saltdogs featured the return of the entertaining and family-friendly brand of baseball that the RailCats provide in addition to a come-from-behind, extra-inning Gary victory.
The season got off to an unfavorable start when the Saltdogs touched starting pitcher Alain Quijano for four runs in the top of the first including a Dennis Raben three-run homer. However, the RailCats responded with a rally propelled by two familiar faces as RailCats veteran Mike Massaro tripled home Adam Klein.
Massaro finished with four RBIs including a clutch bases-clearing in the bottom of the second inning. However, it was Klein who provided the heroics with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th to give the RailCats a 9-8 victory and end a four hour, seven minute marathon.
“Typically, in a two-and-one count, I’m not swinging,” Klein said. “I was feeling really confident with the way I was swinging the bat today; the last couple of days I was feeling great. I was looking for something over the plate and he gave me a pitch to hit.”
The RailCats faced a 7-2 deficit after Ian Gac’s second inning home run, but they outscored Lincoln 7-1 over the final nine and a half innings to come away with the opening night win.
“That’s the way we drew it up,” manager Greg Tagert joked. “I think you talk about a team win, I think that’s what happened. It couldn’t be more fitting on opening night to have the two guys at the front end (of the lineup), Massaro and Klein, win it.”
Quijano, who surrendered seven earned runs in 4.1 innings, outlasted Lincoln starter Joe Bisenius, who was bounced with one out in the second and charged with six earned runs. The Gary bullpen combined for seven innings, allowing just two hits and one run on Raben’s second home run of the game, which came against Morgan Coombs in the second. Ian Durham retired the side in order in the top of the 11th and was the winning pitcher.
“It feels great not only to win, but to win in the fashion that we won,” Klein said. “Down four runs in the first, then to go down 7-2 and come all the way back is really impressive and is very dictating of the character of this club.”
Tagert said he buys into the baseball adage that opening night is worth more than one game in terms of momentum, even though it only counts for one in the standings.
“In baseball more than any other sport, Opening Night takes on a presence like it’s worth six games or 10 games,” he said. “I think everyone will tell you that there are butterflies when you’re out there and you’re trying to impress your new teammates.”
In addition to the entertaining contest on the field, the crowd of 4,821 was also treated to on-field entertainment, the antics of Rusty and Rascal and a postgame fireworks show. For President and General Manager Kevin Spudic, opening night is the culmination of months of hard work for his staff.
“As President and GM, it’s a very exciting time for us getting ready for the season, especially during the offseason,” Spudic said. “The offseason is a lot of work for my staff and it’s all worthwhile when you see a crowd like this on opening night.”
Just a few short months ago, the Ideas in Motion Media team visited the empty, quiet Steel Yard on a cold winter day. On Thursday, the seats were filled and the weather was picturesque on a great night for baseball.
“It’s so much fun and you get such a great bang for your buck,” Owner Pat Salvi said. “It never gets old and we have a great group of fans here tonight.”