IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

Cotham Hurls a Gem as RailRiders Top Tides, 5-1

Published on May 30, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


Norfolk, Va. - Caleb Cotham limited the Norfolk Tides (Triple-A/Baltimore Orioles) to just one unearned run over seven strong innings, as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees) earned a series split with a 5-1 win on Thursday night. Dan Johnson and Ronnier Mustelier each homered to lead the RailRider offense.

Cotham (1-3) tossed a career high seven innings, and earned his first career Triple-A victory. He scattered six hits, allowed just one unearned run, and struck out five batters. Cotham appeared to get stronger as the game wore on, as he retired the final eight men he faced. Sam Demel recorded the final four outs of the ballgame to earn his second save of the season.

Norfolk was able to score an early run off of Cotham in the third. Trayvon Robinson led off the inning with a single, and moved to second after a throwing error by Cotham on a failed pick-off attempt. One out later, Xavier Avery singled to right field, and Robinson was able to score after right fielder Thomas Neal was unable to glove the groundball single.

The RailRiders wasted no time, and leveled the score in the fourth. Johnson had been hitting impressive home runs in batting practice prior to the game, and he translated that into in-game success, as he sent a Zack Britton offering over the right field fence for a two-out solo home run.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre inched in front with another run in the fifth. Addison Maruszak led off with a double to right-center field, moved to second when Bobby Wilson reached on an error, and then scored on Alberto Gonzalez's sacrifice fly to right field.

As Cotham continued to throw up zeros on the scoreboard, the RailRiders gave him some breathing room in the eighth. Melky Mesa led off with a single, and Zoilo Almonte was hit by a pitch one out later. That setup Mustelier's three-run home run to left field. It was Mustelier's third home run this season, and put the game out of reach.

Britton (2-2) started the game for Norfolk, and took the loss. He worked five innings, and allowed two earned runs, including the Johnson home run.

The RailRiders will now begin the second half of their eight-game road trip, as they open up a four-game series with the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays). Chris Bootcheck (5-0, 2.82) will put his perfect record on the line when he faces off against Durham's Jim Paduch (1-3, 7.92) on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., with pregame coverage getting underway at 6:35 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.

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International League Stories from May 30, 2013


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