IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

RailRiders vs. IronPigs - Game Notes - June 14, 2013

Published on June 14, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


LAST TIME OUT: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre finally made the trek down the road to see their closest opponent. In the first game of the newly minted IronRail Trophy, the IronPigs overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the RailRiders, 4-2. A sacrifice fly from Josh Bell and a bases loaded walk by Alberto Gonzalez gave SWB the early lead after three and a half innings, but Lehigh Valley chipped away. Steve Susdorf forced home a run with a groundout in the fourth, and Cody Overbeck hit his team-leading 11th home run of the season to tie the game in the sixth. Darin Ruf homered in the seventh to give the IronPigs the lead, and Cameron Rupp provided insurance with an RBI single.

IRONRAIL TROPHY: Prior to last night's contest, the two squads announced that they will be playing for the "IronRail Trophy". The 16-game series between the RailRiders and IronPigs will decide the winner. The loser will sing in a fat lady costume on the winner's field, and a feast will be paid for by the losing team as well. The trophy will be held by the winning team, displayed for all to see.

LEAVING THEM ON: The RailRiders had their chances to score more than two runs last night. SWB left 12 men on base, and went 1-9 with runners in scoring position. The last time the RailRiders left more than 10 men on base was May 25 at PNC Field against Durham, when they stranded 11 men aboard. Lehigh Valley did not fare much better, as the IronPigs left 11 runners on base and went 2-11 with runners in scoring position.

WHAT A DAN JOHNSON WE HAVE: The old Dan Johnson just might be back. Coming into the 2013 campaign, many speculated that the biggest power bat in the SWB lineup would be faring a little better than Johnson has thus far. However, Johnson recorded three hits last night, including two doubles. That effort came just two days after he homered twice in a doubleheader sweep of Buffalo. Johnson's batting average dipped to .202 on June 7, but since that point, he is batting .345 (10-29) and has risen his average to .223, which is the highest it has been since he went 1-4 in SWB's season-opening loss vs. Pawtucket.

WELCOME J.R. MURPHY: Prior to last night's game, Yankees catching prospect J.R. Murphy was promoted from Double-A Trenton. He went 0-2 with a pair of walks in his Triple-A debut, and while he threw out a runner at second base, he was also charged with two passed balls. Murphy was rated as the 15th best prospect in the Yankees system entering the 2013 campaign by Baseball America, but he's exceeded most expectations. He hit .268 (49-183) in 49 games with Trenton, including six home runs and 25 RBIs. Murphy began this season on a torrid pace, he hit .310 (22-71) in the month of April with four of his six home runs.

DOMINATING LEFTIES AS A RIGHTY: Jim Miller has been a strikeout machine out of the RailRider bullpen all season, but he's been especially dominant of left-handed batters. After his appearance last night, Miller has limited lefties to an astounding .161 (9-56) average, with 33 of those 56 at-bats ending in a strikeout. The splits rise considerably against right-handed hitters, who are batting .344 (21-61) off of Miller with just 10 strikeouts.

NO RALLIES: The RailRiders dropped their 25th game this season when trailing after seven innings. They are the only team in the International League that does not have a win when down after seven frames. The Syracuse Chiefs lead the IL with six wins in that scenario, and while the RailRiders have not rallied, they don't have the most losses. Charlotte, who currently sit in last place in the IL South, have lost 34 games when trailing after seven, and have won just twice.

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International League Stories from June 14, 2013


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