IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

SWB Game Notes

Published on May 30, 2017 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


LAST TIME OUT: The RailRiders were held scoreless for just the third time on the season Monday night at Fifth Third Field. The Toledo Mud Hens (22-27) grabbed a 5-0 win to avoid getting swept in the four-game series. The RailRiders went 4-2 on their swing through the Buckeye State.

PITCHING LINES: Drew VerHagen (3-3) scattered six hits and two walks over 7.1 innings for the Mud Hens. The right-hander struck out five. Luis Cessa (2-5) absorbed the defeat despite a quality start. The right-hander allowed an RBI double to Argenis Diaz in the second and a solo shot to Bryan Holaday in the fifth. He scattered three hits and a walk across six innings with four strikeouts.

OUT OF REACH: Michael Almanzar mashed a three-run homer off J.R. Graham in the eighth inning to cap the scoring.

SHUTTIES: The skunking of Toledo was the RailRiders' sixth shutout victory this year. Only Lehigh Valley (7) has blanked opponents more than SWB this year. Last season, RailRiders pitching hurled a franchise-record 24 goose eggs.

RED THUNDER: Clint Frazier leads the RailRiders in home runs (9), RBIs (29) and walks (21). Three of his homers came on the road trip. He ranks among the IL's best in doubles (1st, 16), extra-base hits (3rd, 25) and runs scored (T-8th, 30).

DEADPOOL: Tyler Wade's 13 steals have him two off the pace of Salt Lake's Eric Young, Jr. for tops in Triple-A. Wade is on pace to post 39 steals this season. The franchise's single-season record of 44 was set by Tommy Barrett in 1989. Since the start of May, he has gone 31-for-105 over 24 games, slashing .295/.364/.495/.860. He ranks among the IL's best in AVG (14th, .293), hits (T-4th, 54) and runs scored (T-2nd, 34). He made his first career start in center field on May 8 at Pawtucket and got his first nod in right field on May 16 vs. the Paw Sox. He had no outfield experience and just one start at third base in regular-season play entering 2017. On April 29, May 6, 14, 21 and 29, he drew starts at the hot corner and first tasted the outfield with an April 30 nod in left. His first-ever outfield time came in the 2016 Arizona Fall League when he started 16 of his 18 games played in the outfield (5-RF, 4-LF, 7-CF).

FOWL BALL: Dustin Fowler ranks among the IL's best in batting average (6th, .314), hits (T-1st, 60), slugging percentage (2nd, .581), extra-base hits (1st, 28), doubles (T-4th, 13), triples (1st, 7) and total bases (1st, 111). His seven triples tie him for tops in all of MiLB with Triple-A El Paso's Franchy Cordero and Advanced-A Lynchburg's Sam Haggerty. Fowler is on pace to triple 21 times. The single-season franchise record is 16, set by Shane Victorino during his 2005 IL MVP campaign.

SWIPER, NO SWIPING!: SWB leads the IL in caught-stealing efficiency at 53% (21 of 40 caught). Eddy Rodriguez stands as the IL's top catcher in the category. With Rodriguez behind the plate SWB has nabbed 11 men in 20 attempts (55%). The IL's average caught-stealing efficiency minus SWB stands at 31%.

YOUNG GUNS: Wade, Fowler and Frazier are all 22 years old. Gleyber Torres is just 20 years of age. The IL's mean-average age for position players early this season stands a shade under 27. SWB boasts the IL's third-youngest group of position players (LHV-24.7, DUR-24.8, SWB-24.9).

THE OFFENSIVE: SWB's offense ranks among the IL's best in: R/G (3rd, 4.85), AVG (1st, .269), OBP (2nd, .338), SLG (1st, .434), OPS (1st, .772), 2B (1st, 108), 3B (T-2nd, 11), HR (4th, 46) and SB (4th, 44).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE: Tyler Austin finished last night 1-for-3 and has collected a knock in all three of his SWB games during his Major League rehab assignment...Tonight marks Torres' home debut...He recorded both a hit and an RBI in three of his last four games on the road trip.

CATCH IT HERE: PNC Field will host the 2017 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game on Sept. 19 at 7:07 p.m. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com. The RailRiders claimed the franchise's second-ever Governors' Cup as IL champs and the team's first-ever Triple-A national title with a win over El Paso in 2016.

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International League Stories from May 30, 2017


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