RailRiders' Pitching Lights out after First Batter

July 16, 2018 - International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders pitcher Nestor Cortes
(Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Credit: Todd Hiller)

TOLEDO, OH - Monday's game began with a leadoff double by Toledo Mud Hens' rehabber Leonys Martin. Nine innings later, that stood as the lone hit allowed by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders pitching in a 5-0 victory over the Mud Hens.

Nestor Cortes got the start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and he was dialed-in. After surrendering the leadoff double, he struck out the side in the first inning and carried that momentum throughout the rest of his start. He notched 10 strikeouts in the game which was the third time this year a RailRider starting pitcher has hit double digits.

The last seven starts have featured glowing numbers for Cortes. He has allowed three earned runs over 38.1 innings (0.70 ERA) which has lowered his season ERA from 6.75 to 3.11. Also during that time opponents are hitting just 23-for-138 off of the southpaw.

In the top of the second, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre loaded the bases against Kyle Funkhouser. Toledo's starter was making his Triple-A debut and allowed a single and a double with one out before walking L.J. Mazzilli to load the bases. Billy McKinney worked a four-pitch walk to bring home Wilkin Castillo for a 1-0 lead. The RailRiders added a run in the fourth and two in the seventh to grow their lead off Toledo pitching.

Rehabbing New York Yankee catcher, Gary Sanchez, drilled a line-drive home run out over the 406-foot mark in centerfield in the 9th inning to cap the scoring for SWB. It was his second in as many days on rehab, and he is now 2-for-8 with a pair of homers leading into tomorrow's expected day-off for him.

It was the second straight game with a shutout for the RailRiders, extending their scoreless-inning streak to a season-best 18 innings. Meanwhile, it was only the third time this season the Mud Hens have been shutout, but the second time in four games after being shutout just once in the first 89 games of the year.

The RailRiders and Mud Hens continue their three-game series Tuesday afternoon at Fifth Third Field. RHP Chance Adams (3-4, 4.65) takes the ball for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre while RHP Jacob Turner (1-2, 4.19) toes the rubber for Toledo. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 11:35 a.m. with Adam Marco and Adam Giardino.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Record:

49-43

Check out the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Statistics

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders pitcher Nestor Cortes
(Todd Hiller)

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