RailCats falter in blowout by Winnipeg

GARY | After a 10-1 loss to Winnipeg on Friday, RailCats manager Greg Tagert had a 10-minute, closed-door meeting with his team.

"The only message I gave the club is one they already knew: We've had too many games decided by the fourth or fifth or sixth inning of the game that we've been on the wrong side of," Tagert said.

The RailCats were behind 9-1 in the sixth inning after three errors and 12 hits.

Juan Diaz hit a three-run homer in the third to give the Goldeyes a 4-0 lead, and Winnipeg scored courtesy of two RailCats errors in the sixth inning.

"It's one of those things whether it's starting pitching or what, but offensively we have a ballclub that's better when we're in the game," Tagert said. "Anytime we don't score in the first, second or third, and if we're gonna be behind the 8-ball by the fourth inning, it's going to be that much more difficult."

The RailCats entered Friday's game having won five of their last six games, including two over then-second place Fargo-Moorhead. But the 10 runs allowed to Winnipeg is the most the RailCats have given up at home all season.

Starter Onan Masaoka allowed six hits and six runs in four innings. All three of his starts against the Goldeyes have been losses.

"Onan probably reflects the club in that he's taken some strides forward, but it's trusting his ability and he got touched up a little bit by this club," Tagert said. "That first inning, he looked like he was on, then we make the error behind him. ... He really is very reflective of our whole ballclub in that we're trying to get to that point where we're not looking back and we're not having questions, and it just hasn't happened quite yet."

Mike Massaro scored in the fourth inning on a Steve Haake sacrifice fly to avoid the RailCats' first shutout this year.

NOTABLE: The RailCats recognized Kelli Scurlock from Wanatah as their one millionth fan entering through the gates. She won a pair of season tickets for the 2010 campaign as part of her prizes. ... RailCats fans bringing items for Operation AC, a charity that collects items to send to the troops overseas, will receive $2 off the price of their ticket to tonight's game. The foundation is looking for items such as calling cards, first aid supplies, reading materials, foot powder, socks, gloves, baby wipes, playing cards and DVDs. Also, soldiers with a valid military ID will receive $2 off the cost of their tickets with $1 for military family members.