IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

Rail Riders - Game Notes - May 20, 2013

Published on May 20, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


TAILSPIN: Last night, the RailRiders found out just how home-run friendly Huntington Park can be. They blew a 3-0 first-inning lead as the Clippers hit four home runs and roared back for a 10-4 victory. The RailRiders have lost seven of eight and nine of 12 in falling to .500 for the first time since they were 11-11. The Clippers own a season-best five-game winning streak and have taken nine of 11.

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD: The RailRiders are assured of a losing road trip as they are now 1-5 on the eight-game journey. During that time, the starters' ERA is a composite 9.22 with a cumulative .355 batting average against. The RailRiders are still in the front half of a run with 16 of 20 away from PNC Field.

HOW THE WEST WAS LOST: SWB has a losing record against each of the three IL West squads it has faced. It has dropped three of four to both Columbus and Indianapolis at PNC Field, along with losing three of four at Toledo's Fifth Third Field to start this road trip. Add in the first two in this series at Huntington Park and the RailRiders are 3-11 (.214) against the IL West. They are 18-10 (.643) against everyone else in the loop.

DAN THE MAN: Dan Johnson has just two hits against the Clippers in 15 at-bats, but both are homers off of notable names. On Sunday night it was Trevor Bauer. On April 23 it was Daisuke Matsuzaka. Bauer has only allowed three Triple-A home runs. Two have been hit by SWB. The other came on April 24 off the bat of the since-released Cody Johnson (no relation to Dan). Matsuzaka, who has been sidelined since April 28 (oblique), has only allowed the one homer over his 20.2 IP.

MAKING BLOMBERG PROUD: As the DH, Dan Johnson is hitting .296 (8-for-27) with two doubles, two homers and seven RBIs. The average for every other RailRider as the DH - just .167 (19-for-114) with a double, a homer and six RBIs.

OFF THE RAILS: During the game, the Yankees announced that infielder Luke Murton had been placed on the disabled list...Brennan Boesch singled once and walked three times among his five plate appearances...He also scored a run...Addison Maruszak continues to enjoy success against Columbus...He is hitting .400 (8-for-20) against the Clippers and just .165 (14-for-85) against the rest of the IL...Thomas Neal, who was with the Indians last year including some time with the big league team, walked twice, stole a bag and scored a run...He has reached base five times in eight plate appearances on the series...Cody Johnson has signed with the independent York Revolution (Pa.).

BACK TO THE GRIND: After his first true off day of the season, Zoilo Almonte went 0-for-5. He struck out twice and twice grounded out on first-pitch contact. Outside of Saturday's series opener, Almonte had played in every other game this season. Dave Miley tried to give him a day off on May 8 against Indianapolis, but Johnson got ejected late in the game and Almonte was forced to enter as the RailRiders juggled things defensively. In his lone plate appearance as the tying run with two outs, he made an out and lost his then-IL-best 12-game hitting streak.

TEAM EFFORT: Every man in the Clippers' nine had a hit and seven of the nine had an RBI. The team finished with 10 runs on 16 hits. Matt Lawson, who has 19 career triples, fell a three-base hit short of the cycle.

MARSHALL LAW: The RailRiders have not had their starter post a win since Brett Marshall got the victory against Indianapolis on May 7.

HOME RUN WOES: Caleb Cotham (0-2) has allowed a home run in each of his first three Triple-A outings. His Sunday difficulties saw four leave the yard, lifting his total to seven dingers in 13 innings pitched. His ERA surged to 9.00.

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International League Stories from May 20, 2013


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