IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

SWB Game Notes

Published on April 24, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


MONEY MONDAY: Thomas Neal recorded a pair of run-scoring doubles and Chris Bootcheck tossed seven solid innings as the RailRiders topped the Syracuse Chiefs (Washington Nationals) on Monday night, 8-1. The win, SWB's seventh in nine games, brought it to the .500 mark for the first time this season.

VETERAN MOVES: Bootcheck (2-0), who had not been a regular starter since 2005 with Salt Lake (Triple-A/Angels) until this year, allowed just five hits over his seven frames. The team's oldest player at age 34 struck out five, walked two and allowed his first run of the season to lift his ERA to 0.50. He still stood first among active IL hurlers in ERA entering today. In addition to becoming the second RailRider to win his second game, he joined Vidal Nuno as the second RailRider to last seven innings in a start this season. In fact, he fell one out short of the longest outing officially on record for his stateside career. He went 7.1 on June 25, 2011, coincidentally enough against SWB. He allowed just two runs that day for Durham and took a loss.

WACKY STAT OF THE DAY: After three starts, Bootcheck has even splits against left-handed and right-handed hitters. Each side has hit .200 against him.

THOMAS THE TANK: Outfielder Thomas Neal continues to swing the squad's hottest stick. He went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, three runs scored and drove in two tallies. Neal has a team-best 14 RBIs on the season, good for a share of fifth in the IL entering today. He also owns the team's best hitting streak on the young year with a nine-gamer entering tonight. He entered game two of the April 14 doubleheader at Buffalo as a .167 bat. Since then, he has gone 16-for-33 (.485) during his string of success, more than doubling his overall contact clip to .351. That ties him with Gwinnett second baseman Tyler Pastornicky for eighth in the circuit.

BULLISH 'PEN: Last night, Jim Miller and Josh Spence each tossed a scoreless inning of relief. The RailRiders' bullpen has not allowed a run in three games. Over its 7.1 scoreless innings, it has allowed just four hits, issued three walks and notched eight strikeouts.

IF YOU AIN'T FIRST...: Ricky Bobby's dad aside, the RailRiders held onto their third-place standing in the IL North with their defeat of the Chiefs. SWB is just two games back of Pawtucket in the loss column for second. Until Sunday's win over Syracuse, the team had not been in a spot better than a tie for fourth since starting the season 0-4. Last season, the RailRiders won the IL North.

HOME IMPROVEMENT: Last night, the RailRiders secured their first home series victory of the season. Since all of last season had the team living the life of nomads, it marked the franchise's first home series victory since taking two of three from Buffalo to close out 2011 from Sept. 4-5. The Sept. 4 games were part of a doubleheader.

OFF THE RAILS: The RailRiders have scored first in 13 of their 16 games...Melky Mesa got off to an 0-for-10 start on the homestand before his 2-for-4 showing last night...Mesa also stole his second bag of the season and scored a run, but struck out for the 26th time this season...That strikeout total ranked highest among active IL hitters entering today...The RailRiders went 5-for-8 with men in scoring position last night...SWB scored just 18 runs when it got off to a 1-6 start (2.6/game)...It has plated 55 tallies over its last nine, going 7-2 in that time (6.1/game).

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International League Stories from April 24, 2013


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