IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

SWB Game Notes

Published on May 5, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT: The weather remained putrid, but the baseball was still beautiful for the RailRiders on Friday night. Amid chilly, windy and rainy conditions, the RailRiders beat the Gwinnett Braves, 6-2. Melky Mesa and Addison Maruszak each delivered two-run doubles to highlight the offensive while five hurlers combined on the team's sixth straight win.

STICKS & STONES: Starter Graham Stoneburner (2-1) got the victory and did so on just 48 pitches (29 strikes). The sinkerballer gave up one run on three hits and one walk over five ultra-efficient innings. He induced a pair of double plays and faced just two over the minimum.

JUMPING FOR ZOI: Zoilo Almonte singled and scored in the win, running his hitting streak to eight games. Only Thomas Neal's nine-gamer from April 14-22 ranks better by a RailRider this season. Almonte has hit .367 (11-for-30) with three extra-base hits, five RBIs and two runs scored over his string of success, which is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the IL. He has reached base safely in a team-high 13 straight games as part of this run.

HELLO MR. WILSON: Catcher Bobby Wilson continues to call a great game each time out. The team improved to 8-3 (.727) with him behind the plate and has a 2.60 ERA. When anyone else is calling pitches, the team's record stands at 7-8 (.467) with an ERA of 3.78.

MARUSZAK ATTACK: Much like he did in the seventh inning in Thursday's series opener, Addison Maruszak delivered a clutch two-out hit to snap a scoreless draw. In the opening inning, with two on, two out and a full count, the versatile Florida native hammered a two-run double to left off of Yohan Flande (1-2). Maruszak is hitting .270 (17-for-63). With men in scoring position and two outs, his average soars to .444.

USE THE FORCE LUKE: Designated hitter Luke Murton followed a solid Thursday showing with two hits, one walk and a run scored in Friday's victory. Entering the series, SWB's DH role posted a composite .169 batting average (14-for-83) with only nine RBIs and 37 strikeouts. Murton is 3-for-6 with two walks, one RBI and a run scored on the set.

SWING & A MISS: In addition to his two-run double on Friday, Mesa struck out three times. His 40 whiffs on the year lead the IL and they have come in just 95 at-bats. He has struck out in 42% of his at-bats.

SUPER SIX: Dave Miley's team has its longest win streak of the season at six, all on the road. Last night's triumph gave the squad its best string of road success since winning six straight during the Norfolk/Durham trip from June 3-8, 2012. It has not won seven straight true road games since taking its first 10 road affairs in 2009. The 10th win in that run was a 17-14 game that took 13 innings and 4:43 at Rochester on April 25.

TURNING IT AROUND: The RailRiders are four games above .500 for the first time this season. They had owned a losing record most of the year since starting the campaign 0-4 after a sweep at the hands of the defending Governor's Cup champion, Pawtucket, in Moosic. Since then, the team has gone 15-7 (.682) and enters today tied in the loss column with the second-place PawSox.

TROUBLE AT HOME?: The RailRiders sit at 5-9 (.357) in home games while they have gone 10-2 (.833) on the road including wins in 10 of their last 11. The splits back-up the records. At home, the team is hitting .225/.333/.320 and averages 3.4 runs/game. On the road, the triple slashes rise to .285/.348/.433 and the team posts 5.3 runs/game. Also consider that three of the team's four doubleheaders have taken place on the road, making six of the 12 road games seven-inning affairs, while the only extra-inning game came at home. Only two active players are hitting above .250 at home. Eight of the 15 that have seen road playing time are hitting .297 or better away from Moosic.

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International League Stories from May 5, 2013


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