LINCOLN — Brandon Jacobs homered for the second straight day but the Gary SouthShore RailCats (47-43) dismantled the Saltdogs (47-42) 9-1 in front of 4,062 fans at Haymarket Park Thursday night.
With the win, Gary pulls to within 1/2 game of Lincoln’s Central division lead with less than two weeks remaining.
Charle Rosario (10-3) pitched 7 1/3 strong innings, allowing one run while fanning nine to earn the win.
Gary plated three runs in the second and had a 5-0 lead before Jacobs’ two-out, opposite field shot in the bottom of the fifth.
Cesar Valera had three hits and Austin Gallagher two in the losing effort.
Ryan Davis tossed a perfect eighth inning.
Matt Larkins (6-7) pitched seven, allowing five earned to suffer the loss.
The benches and bullpens cleared in the top of the ninth before Reggie Wilson belted a three-run homer to seal the series.
Lincoln opens its final home series of the regular season – and final Fireworks Friday show – Friday night at 6:35 p.m. against St. Paul. RHP Ryan O’Sullivan is expected to face RHP Mark Hamburger.
Radio coverage begins at 6:05 p.m. on KFOR FM 103.3/1240 AM, streaming online at AmericanAssociationBaseball.TV.