Nine innings pitched with six hits and no runs allowed, but no victory.
That summed up Joe Sergent's Tuesday at Newman Outdoor Field.
Despite the solid effort from their starting pitcher, the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks lost for the fourth time in five games.
An RBI single by Eric McNamee in the 10th inning accounted for the game's only run as the Gary SouthShore RailCats earned a 1-0 Northern League victory.
"You always feel like you wasted a shutout nine innings when you lose," RedHawks manager Doug Simunic said. "You have to come back tomorrow. There is nothing you can do about it."
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However, the RedHawks (26-17) maintained their 21/2-game lead against the Calgary Vipers (23-19) for first place in the North Division. Sioux Falls beat the Vipers 8-5 on Tuesday. F-M's magic number for clinching a first-half title and earning a spot in the playoffs, is three with five games remaining in the half.
Sergent threw 120 pitches, including 82 strikes, and struck out five batters with one walk against Gary.
Despite the no-decision, Sergent (6-1) lowered his ERA to 2.58 this season.
"It hurts me because I caught that and couldn't do anything for him," RedHawks catcher Kelley Gulledge said. "Everything was money; his changeup and his slider and he was locating his fastball inside."
RedHawks right-handed reliever Mel Spivey pitched the 10th inning. He walked pinch-hitter Steve Haake to start the inning.
Haake later scored on McNamee's one-out single to center field.
The RedHawks threatened in the bottom of the 10th. But with runners on first and third base with two outs, Gary center fielder Anthony Iapoce tracked down Gulledge's fly ball in the left-center field gap to end the game.
Sergent said the nine-inning outing was the longest of his professional career.
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"I'm just trying to eat up as many innings as possible," Sergent said. "As long as I keep the team in the game, that's what matters to me."
Gary starter Jamie Bennett was also sharp, scattering nine hits over eight innings. The left-hander struck out five batters and walked two.
"Their guy pitched a good game," Simunic said of Bennett. "He mixed it up and kept the ball off the big part of the plate. Sergent did the same."
NOTES: Right-handed pitcher Todd George (0-4, 6.86 ERA) is slated to start today for the RedHawks. Gary is expected to counter with right-hander Quintin Oldenburg (7-2, 3.77 ERA). ... Mike Busch of Calgary, Andy McCauley of Schaumburg and George Tsamis of St. Paul were selected to manage in the Northern League All-Star game, scheduled for July 19 in Gary. Busch will guide the North team, while McCauley and Tsamis will co-manage the South team. ... The RedHawks signed rookie right-handed pitcher Nick Biron. Biron pitched at West Virginia State University.
GARY REDHAWKS
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Iapoce cf 5 0 0 0 Mathis cf 5 0 1 0
Townsnd 3b 4 0 0 0 Jeffcoat ss 5 0 1 0
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Saumels rf 4 0 0 0 Austin rf 5 0 2 0
Yepez c 3 0 1 0 Salazar 3b 4 0 1 0
Colson 1b 4 0 0 0 Kofler dh 5 0 2 0
ONeal lf 4 0 1 0 Dormnnpr 0 0 0 0
Einspahr dh 3 0 2 0 Gulledge c 4 0 0 0
Haake ph 0 1 0 0 Williams 1b 4 0 1 0
Pecci ss 3 0 1 0 Ward 2b 4 0 2 0
McName 2b 4 0 2 1 Krause lf 4 0 2 0
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Totals 34 1 7 1 40 0 12 0
Team 000 000 000 1-1 7 0
RedHawks 000 000 000 0-0 12 0
DP-G 1, FM 1. LOB-G 6, FM 12. 2B-Yepez (13), Pecci (4), Krause (10). SH-Pecci. SB-Haake (9). CS-Ward (1).
IP H R ER BB SO
Gary
Bennett 8 9 0 0 2 5
Kerber W, 3-0 2 3 0 0 0 3
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RedHawks
Sergent 9 6 0 0 1 5
Spivey L, 0-3 1 1 1 1 1 1
Umpires-Home: Franson, First: Abraham, Third: Himmanen. Time-2:36. A-3,006.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513
