FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media Contact: Jon Versteeg
June 25, 2007 815-774-2881

RAILCATS SNAP JACKHAMMERS THREE-GAME WINNING STREAK WITH A 6-3 WIN

JOLIET, IL-The Gary SouthShore RailCats (26-10) scored three unearned runs in the sixth inning to beat the Joliet JackHammers 6-3 and snap the JackHammers (16-20) three-game winning streak before 2,428 fans at Silver Cross Field on Monday night.

Joliet scored first in the second inning against Gary starting pitcher Travis Kerber (1-1). Juan Diaz (1-4) singled and went to second base when Derek Nicholson (0-4) worked a walk. After Chad Ehrnsberger (0-2) and Tim Hutting (1-3) struck out, Dennis Blackmon (2-3) walked to load the bases.

Eric Scriven (1-3) followed with a walk to score Diaz and give the JackHammers a 1-0 lead.

The RailCats tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning with a single run against JackHammers right-handed pitcher Matt Smith (1-4). Nate Price (4-4) led off the inning with a double and scored when Eric Blakely (1-3) hit a single back up the middle and into center field.

Joliet pushed across a single run in the fourth inning. Ehrnsberger led off the inning and was hit by a pitch. Hutting and Blackmon hit singles to move Ehrnsberger to third base. Scriven followed with an RBI single to give the JackHammers a 2-1 lead.

JackHammers right fielder Cory Harris (4-5) hit a solo home run over the right field wall in the fifth inning to give the JackHammers a 3-1 lead.

The RailCats followed with three runs in the sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead. Jose Yepez (2-4) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second base when Tanner Townsend (1-3) walked. David Detienne reached third base on an error by JackHammers right fielder Cory Harris. Yepez and Townsend scored and the RailCats tied the game at 3-3.

Nate Price followed the error with an RBI single to score Detienne and give the RailCats a 4-3 lead.

Price hit a two-run home run over the right center field wall to give the RailCats a 6-3 lead. He finished with 4-4 with a single, two doubles, a home run and four RBI.

Smith suffered the loss for the JackHammers after pitching six innings and allowing four runs, (one earned run), on seven hits.

Loose Gravel: Scriven finished the game 1-3 with two RBI for the JackHammers.

The JackHammers and RailCats play game two of their three-game series on Tuesday night at 6:05 p.m. It’s another Family Night with Kids Running the Bases after the Game! It’s also the IDOT Click It or Ticket Giveaway to the first 1,000 fans (98.3 WCCQ)

If you can’t join us at Silver Cross Field, please join into all of the JackHammers action on AM 1340 WJOL and online beginning at www.jackhammerbaseball.com. The action starts with the pre-game show at 5:50 p.m.

The JackHammers are home through Wednesday, June 27. For tickets or for more information, please give the JackHammers a call at (815) 726-BALL (2255), go online to www.jackhammerbaseball.com, or stop by the Silver Cross Field Box Office during normal business hours.

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