Again, we see the RailCats playing peek-a-boo with .500 as they win an 8-6 nail-biter in game two against the Chicago Dogs. The RailCats started the game with a 6-0 lead against former RailCats pitcher J.C. Flowers. This was a game where I believe the RailCats took their foot off the gas. Here are nine things I saw in this 8-6 win.
1st Inning– On Monday, the RailCats made a trade with the Chicago Dogs. The RailCats traded away RHP Grant Cherry, RHP J.C. Flowers, and RHP Cade Hermann, and in return, they received RHP Jacob DeLabio. We got to see all four pitchers pitch in this game, and Cade Hermann was the only pitcher to have true success in this one. (More on him later.)
2nd Inning– The RailCats jumped on J.C. Flowers early in the first inning, scoring six runs on four hits and five walks. He only went a third of an inning. We saw Grant Cherry come in relief for Flowers, and Korry Howell hit a sac fly to make the game 6-0; that run was credited to J.C. Flowers. Flowers also walked in two batters with the bases loaded.
3rd Inning– In the first inning all RailCats batters got on base either by a hit or a walk.
4th Inning– As much as I have been concerned with our corner outfielders, Kevin Watson Jr. made two huge catches in left field that killed momentum for the Dogs. I wish the American Association would have clipped his diving catch because it was a thing of beauty.
5th Inning– With the trade that happened, I understand why the deal was made, but giving up Cade Hermann could be a huge loss for the RailCats. After the RailCats jumped all over former pitchers J.C. Flowers and kept the same momentum against Grant Cherry, Hermann just stifled the RailCats’ offense as he went three innings, giving up only one hit and striking out six, retiring the side in order twice. Cade had very good stats going into this game, and I think this game was a revenge game. You want to trade me? I’m going to make you pay.
6th Inning– Both Camryn Williams and Korry Howell homered in this game, and they were very similar home runs. Camryn Williams hit his just above the left side of the center field wall, and Korry Howell did the same but to the right side of the center field wall. You may ask why this is on here. Well, you don’t see many home runs hit to center at the Steel Yard, and both were nearly identical, just on opposite sides. Camryn Williams’ home run was the game-winner, and Korry Howell’s gave them breathing room.
7th Inning– In this game, I was a little confused as to why Jeff Isom put newly acquired RHP Jacob DeLabio out there. At the time, the RailCats were winning 8-4, but just being traded from one team and then turning around and playing that same team could lead to an emotional disaster, and it nearly did for DeLabio, as he didn’t get an out in the 8th. He gave up three walks, one hit, and two runs. One run he walked in, and the other was given up by Jacob Coats on a sac fly after he came in relief for DeLabio. The RailCats have a good enough bullpen that DeLabio could have been used later in the series or in the next one.
8th Inning– I will give the RailCats pitching staff the benefit of the doubt, as they gave up six runs on 15 hits and four walks while leaving 11 runners on base. They definitely bent in this game, but key plays and key strikeouts pushed them through.
9th Inning– The offense went into cruise control in this game. Jumping out to a six-to-nothing lead, they should have rolled the Dogs tonight, but after the first three innings, the RailCats didn’t score. They ended the night with nine hits, six walks, and 11 strikeouts. It felt like they said, “We did enough on offense,” and told the pitching staff, “Hey, you’ve got this, right?”
Extra Inning- Some people may say this team is lucky with some of the wins they have. I would partially agree. To me, it feels like they do the bare minimum. They get down by one or two runs, then score two or more to take the lead, and the good at-bats go out the window. It feels as if they get the lead and that’s just good enough. The team has shown they can have a powerhouse offense but only pull it out every so often. I will give credit to Jeff Isom for the way he manages the game, but eventually playing this way can hurt in the long run. I would like to be proven wrong, but putting too much pressure on the pitching staff can wear them down quickly, like it did in the 2022 season.
219 ‘Cat of the Game– Camryn Williams went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored, a double, and a strikeout. He started the scoring with an RBI double in the 1st, and his home run in the 2nd was the game-winning hit.
219 'Cats 
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