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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

Charlotte Retires 16-Straight RailRiders in Win

July 19, 2014 - International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


Charlotte, N.C. - Micah Johson's leadoff triple in the first was just a sign of things to come Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark, as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders' (Triple-A/New York Yankees) Southern nemesis got the best of them once again, this time in the form of a 7-0 loss. The Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox) rode the arms of Andre Rienzo and four Knights relievers to the shutout victory, while a triumvirate of crooked numbers by Charlotte's juggernaut offensive attack paved the way.

Rienzo received his first start for the Knights since April 14 and carried a one-hitter through five innings pitched. Rienzo retired his final 10 batters faced before handing the baton to Matt Zaleski in the visiting sixth. Charlotte pitching retired 16-straight RailRiders after Antoan Richardson's two-out walk loaded the bases in the second, marking the RailRiders' last base runner until Taylor Dugas' leadoff knock in the visiting eighth.

The Knights' offence took advantage of the solid outing, hanging crooked numbers in the first, fourth and seventh innings en route to the shutout victory. The omen wasn't good from the beginning. Starter Nik Turley yielded a free-swinging first-pitch triple to Micah Johnson who later scored on a run-scoring base hit by Josh Phegley for Charlotte's initial run. The second tally came courtesy of Jordan Danks' sacrifice fly to center that plated Marcus Semien from third for the 2-0 lead.

A bruised batter in the fourth was followed by a two-run bomb by Dan Black that was aided by the friendly confines of of the ballpark for the 4-0 lead. All nine men in Knights' offensive nine marched to plate off reliever Joel De La Cruz, plating three runs on RBI singles plate appearances by Jordan Danks, Matt Davidson and Andy Wilkins brought the game to its final score of 7-0.

The Knights' pitching staff faced just one batter over the minimum after Richardson's walk in the second en route to the win. Turley spun four innings and struck out a season-high six batters in the loss while Rienzo notched his first win for the Knights as one of five pitchers used on the evening.

The RailRiders and Knights conclude the four-game run Sunday, July 20 with the first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will toss left-hander Matt Tracy (0-2, 3.12) while Charlotte counters with the righty Daniel McCutchen (0-0, 7.20). John Sadak will have the call on radio with the pregame show beginning at 4:35 p.m. on NEPA Sports Radio - The GAME, Northeast PA's largest radio network: 100.7 FM, 1340 WYCK-AM, 1400 WICK-AM, 1440 WCDL-AM and 106.7 FM. For season ticket information, single-game tickets or to book a ballpark group outing, call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailirders.com. OFF THE RAILS

Rob Refsnyder went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the ninth inning, dipping his July batting average down to .226. His fifteen strikeouts in 16 games this month even his total output or the month of June while his on-base percentage has dipped from a June best of .494 to .304 in July.

The 7-0 defeat marked the seventh time the RailRiders have been shutout this season. The loss was the RailRiders' second shutout loss of the month (1-0 to Buffalo on July 7 in eight innings) and first nine-inning blanking since a 7-0 loss to the Columbus Clippers on June 14.

The loss dropped the RailRiders to a season-worst eight-games under .500 at 46-54 and brought the RailRiders to 1-6 this season against the Charlotte Knights.

The win for Charlotte marked the club's first five-game winning streak since 2012. The Knights have now won nine of their last 12 ballgames.

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