AUTHOR: SportsReleases.com
TITLE: RailCats Suffer Loss on Duncan's Walk-Off Homer in 9th
DATE: 9/11/2007 10:05:00 PM
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BODY:
September 11, 2007
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Calgary, Alberta—Carlos Duncan drilled a game-winning home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Calgary Vipers came from behind to defeat the Gary SouthShore RailCats 7-6 on Tuesday night in game one of the Northern League Championship Series. A crowd of 2,194 attended the game.
The RailCats took a 2-0 lead in the second inning and led the game until Calgary tied it in the bottom of the eighth, scoring twice in the inning to knot the score at 5-5.
The RailCats answered by breaking the tie in the top of the ninth. Eric Blakeley blooped a double to right to start the rally, went to third on Jose Yepez's one-out single, and scored on an infield hit by Jermaine Allensworth to make it 6-5.
RailCats closer Tony Cogan, who led the league in saves this season and earned two saves in the South Division Playoffs against Winnipeg, entered the game in the bottom of the ninth. He struck out league batting champion Darryl Brinkley to start the inning, but then hit Drew Miller in the back with the first pitch. Duncan then connected on his third homer in four playoff games this season, a shot to left that gave Calgary the win.
The RailCats collected 16 hits but stranded 11 and could not deliver the knock out blow in the middle innings despite numerous opportunities.
Steve Haake's home run in the second gave the RailCats the lead and they added one more in that inning and two more in the fourth on Mike Reese's two-run single to jump ahead 4-0. But Calgary battled back to eventually tie the game in the eighth on a two-out triple by Jorge Tang off RailCats reliever Jim Crowell that scored Nelson Castro from first base.
The RailCats and Vipers will meet in game two of the series on Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. (CDT). Willie Glen (12-1, 3.03) will start for the RailCats against Calgary's Jeff Groeger (3-3, 5.84).
Box Score coming when available.
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