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 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

Defeat Concludes Frustrating Road Trip For RailRiders

May 21, 2013 - International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


Columbus, Ohio - In some ways, it was an emblematic conclusion for a difficult 1-7 road trip. Effort could not be questioned. At-bats were long and Columbus pitchers were forced to labor. But opportunities were lost as the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) left 15 men on base, 10 in scoring position, and fell to the host Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians) at Huntington Park on Tuesday morning, 5-1. A 3-for-16 (.188) showing with men in prime real estate included twice striking out to leave the bases loaded in the late stage of the game. The RailRiders have lost nine of 10 and 11 of 14 in falling to 21-23. The Clippers (28-18) own a season-best seven-game winning streak and have taken 11 of 13.

The RailRiders nearly drew first blood against Carlos Carrasco, the former No. 1 overall prospect for the Phillies who was in the 2009 Cliff Lee trade. Zoilo Almonte singled to start the sixth and stole second. Dan Johnson joined him with his team-leading 36th walk. Two outs later, the RailRiders got the big two-out hit as former Indian Thomas Neal singled into center. Almonte sprinted home but Johnson leaned a bit on his turn at second. Before Almonte could score, Johnson was tagged out when Carson threw a strike to a covering Matt Lawson to end the inning.

In the bottom half of the frame, Chien-Ming Wang (2-4) allowed his lone run. Lawson walked with one away and unlikely suspect Ryan Rohlinger came through. He connected on a two-out RBI double that made contact with center fielder Melky Mesa's glove while he was in full stride on the warning track for a 1-0 margin that chased Wang. Wang allowed seven hits and issued two walks over his 5.2 innings. He struck out four.

Chase Whitley stranded the inherited runner by inducing a fly to right from Chris Wallace. In the seventh, with Carrasco (2-0) gone after six scoreless innings, the RailRiders made Fernando Nieve labor. Addison Maruszak and Reegie Corona walked. With two outs, Almonte rallied from an 0-2 hole to work the count full before his single loaded the bases. But Nieve rallied, striking out Johnson on a high fastball to leave the bases loaded.

Again, Columbus capitalized on momentum lost. Chun-Hsiu Chen doubled with two outs in the bottom half of the frame. Two wild pitches later, he scored to make it 2-0.

In the eighth, Bobby Wilson's just-fair RBI double put SWB on the board and had men at second and third with one out. Columbus played its infield in save for Lawson at second. Maruszak scalded a low liner to Rohlinger at short which the role player caught on the fly. Columbus skipper Chris Tremie made the move to the league leader in saves, Preston Guilmet, and Dave Miley turned to usual leadoff man Corban Joseph as a pinch hitter. Guilmet won the battle, getting Joseph to bounce to first.

The bottom of the eighth went Columbus' way with three runs on four hits against Cody Eppley. Rohlinger, Chris Wallace and Ezequiel Carrera delivered the run scoring blows for a 5-1 score.

Then came the ninth as the RailRiders displayed moxie against Guilmet. Mesa started the rally with a single. Almonte followed with a seven-pitch AB before he flied out to left. While Johnson struck out, Ronnier Mustelier then posted a fantastic plate appearance. He fouled off four two-strike pitches in a 10-pitch at-bat that ended with an up-the-middle single. Josh Bell's subsequent walk loaded the bases for Neal as the tying tally. But Neal, who enjoyed a fantastic series, fell down in the count 0-2 and tried to check his swing on a ball downstairs. The Clippers appealed to first-base umpire Jon Byrne who punched out Neal to end the game for Guilmet's league-best 14th save.

After a scheduled day of rest on Wednesday, the RailRiders begin a single-series, four-game homestand on Thursday against the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays). Right-hander Brett Marshall (2-2, 4.60) will make his first start for the RailRiders since coming back from the big leagues. Durham's starter is TBA. It will be a Thirsty Thursday presented by Budweiser, meaning $1 Pepsi products and Bud Lights for two hours after gates open at 5:30 p.m. The Wannabees will perform in the plaza prior to first pitch.

The game will be broadcasted live on My Network TV with the Voice of the RailRiders, John Sadak, and FOX56 sports director Bob Ide on the call. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with pregame coverage starting at 6:05 p.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. Andrew Kappes will be on the radio call.

OFF THE RAILS:

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

Chien-Ming Wang has not won since a seven-inning complete game at Charlotte on April 30. In four starts since, Wang is 0-3 with a 4.68 ERA. The IL has hit .314 against him in that time.

Dave Miley's team boasted the best road record in the minors when it left PNC Field (12-2, .857).

With a 3-for-5 showing in Tuesday's loss, Ronnier Mustelier hit .314 (11-for-35) on the road trip with seven RBIs. When he was bidding for a spot with the big club in spring training, Mustelier hit .314 (11-for-35) before injuring himself by running into a railing in pursuit of a pop fly.

While the RailRiders lost seven of their eight games on the road trip, three of the setbacks came by one run, two were walk-off finishes and the team played a pair of extra-inning games during its travels.

The RailRiders collected 11 hits in the loss, but 10 were singles.

SWB's staff allowed double-digit hits six times on the eight-game road trip.

Columbus' seven-game winning streak is the second-longest longest active string of team success in the minors. Only the Marlins' Advanced-A team in the Florida State League, the Jupiter Hammerheads, has a better one at nine games entering their home game tonight against the Daytona Cubs. Coincidentally enough, the longest active winning streak in the Majors entering tonight belongs to the Clippers' parent club. The Cleveland Indians have won five straight.

RailRiders infielder Luke Murton turned 27 on Tuesday.

Thomas Neal, who was a Clipper in 2011 and spent all of last season with the Indians organization including time in the bigs, went 4-for-12 (.333) on the series with three RBIs and six walks.

Columbus' Ryan Rohlinger had six RBIs in 34 games played on the season before he drove in two of the Clippers' first three in the series finale.


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