IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

Chen Caps Comeback Win for Columbus

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


Columbus, Ohio - The biggest missing ingredient for the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) in recent days had been solid starting pitching. While that piece of the puzzle was found on Monday night, the end result was another loss as the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians) battered SWB's bullpen for a come-from-behind 6-5 win in 10 innings. The RailRiders have lost eight of nine and 10 of 13 in falling below .500 (21-22) for the first time since they were 10-11. The Clippers (27-18) own a season-best six-game winning streak and have taken 10 of 12.

Staff ace Chris Bootcheck had some command issues early, but found his form and a brilliant line. The veteran right-hander allowed just one run on three hits over six innings as he posted the team's second quality start through seven games on this road trip. He left in line for the win thanks to clutch hitting. Josh Bell and Thomas Neal delivered run-scoring two-out hits in the third with Neal's bases-loaded double making it 4-0 against starter Joe Martinez. Chun-Hsiu Chen's first Triple-A homer made it 4-1 an inning later, but Melky Mesa's two-out double in the fifth brought the margin to four once more at 5-1.

From that point on, the RailRiders went 1-for-17 with six strikeouts and one walk as relievers Scott Barnes, Matt Langwell, Nick Hagadone and Jerry Gil (5-0) combined for five scoreless innings of one-hit ball.

The comeback came as soon as Bootcheck departed. Jim Miller saw his first pitch out of the 'pen lashed to right-center for a Matt Carson double. Omir Santos later singled Carson home and Ezequiel Carrera doubled in another score. Miller settled, striking out Cord Phelps and inducing a foul pop from Matt LaPorta before Lonnie Chisenhall delivered a hard two-run single through the right-side hole for a tie game and Miller's first blown save of the year.

Sam Demel kept the Clippers at bay with two perfect innings of relief and four strikeouts, bridging the way to free baseball. But in the 10th, Josh Spence (0-1) faced three men and did not record an out. LaPorta singled sharply to left-center and Matt Lawson entered as a pinch runner. Chisenhall stunned the park with a late and perfect first-pitch bunt that rolled up the first-base line for a single. Chen followed and in just his second career Triple-A game, singled home the winner with a blooper over a leaping Bell at third. Zoilo Almonte's throw arrived just offline from left as Lawson leapt onto the plate and avoided a tag from Jeff Farnham.

On Tuesday morning, the road trip concludes with Chien-Ming Wang (2-3, 3.29) facing fellow right-hander Carlos Carrasco (1-0, 1.60). First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. with pregame coverage starting at 10:05 a.m. on NEPA Sports Radio - The GAME, Northeast PA's largest sports radio network: 100.7 FM, 1340 WYCK-AM, 1400 WICK-AM, 1440 WCDL-AM and 106.7 FM. The Voice of the RailRiders, John Sadak, will be on the call.

OFF THE RAILS:

The RailRiders lost for just the second time in Chris Bootcheck's eight starts.

Ten of the last 16 meetings between SWB and Columbus going back to last season have been decided by one run. The Clippers have claimed six straight wins in this year's series. That includes four one-run finishes and two walk-off conclusions.

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

The game was played before the second sellout crowd on the series as 10,100 fans filled Huntington Park on Dime Dog Night.

The RailRiders' bullpen allowed five runs and seven hits in three-plus innings of work (15.00 ERA).

Entering the game, it was starting pitching that had struggled on the road trip with a cumulative 9.22 ERA and .355 batting average against.

SWB's staff allowed double-digit hits for the fifth time through seven games on the road trip.

Check out the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Statistics

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International League Stories from May 20, 2013


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