RailCats lose third straight game

GARY | Even with the lead, the RailCats found ways to give it away on Tuesday night.

A four-run RedHawks fifth inning, a run walked in as part of a two-run seventh inning and the RailCats fell to Fargo-Moorhead 8-5 to drop to 23-22 on the season.

"It's been a struggle on a nightly basis," RailCats manager Greg Tagert said. "It's tough to even try to pinpoint what it was tonight. Sure, we made three errors and Brad Halsey was not as sharp as he was in the last couple of nights."

The RailCats held a 2-1 lead, but in the fifth inning. the RedHawks scored four runs -- three earned -- on three hits and two RailCats errors to take a 5-2 lead.

Cristian Guerrero put the RailCats back in the game with his first home run since his return from the disabled list, a two-run bomb over the left field wall in the bottom of the fifth that pulled the 'Cats to 5-4. A Mike Rohde run-scoring single later in the inning tied the game at 5.

Hammond High and Purdue product Mike Coles drove in a pair of runs, including the tiebreaking single in the sixth to give the 'Hawks a 6-5 lead.

Starting pitcher Halsey tossed 5 2/3 innings for the RailCats, giving up six runs and striking out five.

"That sixth inning, he got two quick outs and then had some difficulties," Tagert said. "That's an inning he has to finish off. He's got that kind of ability and we've got to do everything we can. We've got our best guy on the mound that night and we're going to expect him to go out and win that game for us."

When reliever Jeff Williams gave up a double to lead off the seventh, then followed it with three walks and the third RailCats error of the game, the one-run lead became 8-5.

Gary left a runner on base in each of the first six innings, none further than second base. The 'Cats put the first two on in the bottom of the ninth before Mike Reese grounded into a double play.

The 'Cats are now 9-12 at home, second-worst in the Northern League. Still in fourth place overall in the standings with four games left before the All-Star break, the 'Cats finish the series today with the No. 2 RedHawks before a weekend series with first-place Kansas City.