IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

SWB Game Notes

Published on May 6, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


BRAVES MEET BROOM: The RailRiders did not allow Saturday's rainout to dampen their hot streak as they swept a doubleheader from the Gwinnett Braves (Atlanta) Sunday afternoon, 5-1 and 2-1.

JUMP FOR ZOI: Zoilo Almonte had hits in both games on Sunday including a home run off the batter's eye in center field, running the team's top hitting streak to 10 games. Almonte has hit .368 (14-for-38) with two homers, seven RBIs and three runs scored over his string of success, which is tied for the second-longest active streak in the IL. Only Gwinnett's Jose Constanza has a longer live hitting streak in the IL at 11 games. Almonte has reached base safely in 15 straight games as part of this run, the top on-base surge by a RailRider this season.

BEST WEEK EVER: For his exploits, Almonte was named Batter of the Week for the span of April 29-May 5 by the International League today. Almonte hit .355 on the week with two of his three home runs. He led the loop during the span in hits (11) and RBIs (7). On the year, the 23-year-old is hitting .293 (29-for-99) while leading the RailRiders in doubles (7) and RBIs (17). He has also excelled in the clutch, hitting .316 with men on base and two outs. He is the first SWB position player to receive weekly honors from the IL since Russell Branyan got a tip of the cap for his efforts from June 4-10, 2012. Earlier this season, southpaw Vidal Nuno took Pitcher of the Week for April 15-21.

EIGHT IS GREAT: Dave Miley's team has its longest win streak of the season at eight, all on the road thanks to the perfect journey. Yesterday's triumphs gave the squad its best string of road success since taking its first 10 such 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 stand a season-best six games above .500. 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 17-7 (.708) and enters today in a season-best second place, just 2.0 games back of Buffalo. Yesterday's twinbill sweep of the G-Braves and Pawtucket's second straight loss combined to vault the RailRiders a game in front of the reigning IL champ.

TROUBLE AT HOME?: The RailRiders sit at 5-9 (.357) in home games while they have gone 12-2 (.857) on the road including wins in 12 of their last 13. 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 .283/.354/.433 and the team posts 5.0 runs/game. Also consider that four of the team's five doubleheaders have taken place on the road, making eight of the 14 road games seven-inning affairs, while the only extra-inning game came at home. Only three active players are hitting above .250 at home. Eight of the 15 that have seen road playing time are hitting .302 or better away from Moosic.

OFF THE RAILS: The RailRiders have scored first in 20 of their 28 games (71%), going 15-5 (.750) when they put the first run on the board...That includes both of Sunday's games...Melky Mesa struck out four times yesterday...He has whiffed multiple times in four straight games and six of seven...His 44 strikeouts lead the IL and tie him for sixth in MiLB...They have come in just 102 at-bats (43%)...Dellin Betances did not allow a run in his game one start...It is the first time in 26 career Triple-A starts that he has failed to allow a tally...He had not won a start while not allowing a run since June 26, 2011 with Double-A Trenton at New Britain...It was also his first start without allowing a hit since May 16, 2008 versus Asheville while he was with Low-A Charleston (SAL)...Betances has dominated his fellow right-handers this year, holding them to a .135 (5-for-37) average, .243 slugging percentage and notching 16 strikeouts in the process...Chris Bootcheck has won four straight starts including yesterday's nightcap...His 0.60 ERA not only leads the IL, it ranks third in MiLB trailing only Memphis' John Gast (0.26) and Mississippi's Alex Wood (0.58)...Bootcheck has a better WHIP (0.93) and batting average against (.179) than both of them.

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International League Stories from May 6, 2013


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