IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

SWB Game Notes

Published on May 25, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


WOE IS ME: The RailRiders' recent woes continued on Friday night as the Durham Bulls defeated SWB, 9-4. The RailRiders trailed 6-0 after the Bulls hung a four-spot in the fourth inning.

UP & ADAM: While the RailRiders fell to the Bulls 9-4, their parent clubs played to an inverted finish with the Yankees defeating the Rays, 9-4. With two hits in that victory, SWB alumnus David Adams has hit safely in seven of his first eight career games as a Yankee (.323; 10-for-31). Since 1950, only one Yankee has recorded more hits over his first eight career Major League games - Oscar Azocar (11 in 1990). The last Yankees infielder to compile more hits over his first eight Major League games was Jerry Coleman (12 in 1949).

WHAT GOES UP: Earlier today, the Yankees announced that Dellin Betances has been optioned back to the RailRiders. The converted reliever was recalled on May 16, but did not pitch during his more than week-long stay with the big club. Betances has appeared in eight games (six starts) with SWB, going 3-2 with a 5.40 ERA. He has struck out 29 in 28.1 IP, but has also walked 17 (5.4/9 IP). In a corresponding move, outfielder Brennan Boesch was recalled. Boesch hit .179 (5-for-28) in seven games as a RailRider. He walked seven times for an OBP of .343. Boesch got the call after Curtis Granderson suffered a fractured metacarpal in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning last night. Also today, first baseman/DH Luke Murton was activated off the DL while last night's starter, Graham Stoneburner, was transferred to Double-A Trenton.

DIRTY DOZEN: SWB has lost a season-high six straight and 11 of 12. In the longer span, it has been outscored 81-48. The six-game losing streak is the franchise's longest since dropping six in a row from June 18-23, 2012. That included a four-game sweep at Louisville and a pair of losses at Indianapolis. That was the longest losing streak for the eventual IL North champs who spent the entire season living a nomadic existence without a home ballpark. The franchise has not suffered seven straight setbacks since enduring nine consecutive losses from Aug. 9-19, 2011. That included three losses to Gwinnett, a two-game sweep at Syracuse and a four-game broom cleaning at the hands of this Durham squad in Moosic.

ROLLERCOASTER RIDE: After its May 11 4-3 defeat of Gwinnett, the RailRiders' pitching staff owned a 2.98 ERA. The team was also a season-high-tying six games over .500. In losing 11 of 12 since, the staff has allowed 79 earned runs in 103.2 IP (6.86 ERA) while watching 15 balls to leave the yard. Starters have gone 0-6 in that time while giving up 44 earned runs in 51.2 IP (7.66 ERA) and allowing 10 of the home runs. The bullpen has gone 1-5 with 35 earned runs and five taters surrendered in 52.0 IP (6.06 ERA). SWB spent most of the early stage of the season among the IL's best in team ERA, often ranking just behind Indianapolis. It enters tonight with a 4.01 mark that places it eighth in the 14-team circuit.

OFF THE RAILS: The RailRiders' Opening Day man, southpaw Vidal Nuno, makes his second career Major League start at 4:10 p.m. today at Tampa Bay...Nuno's first nod went incredibly well...In a May 13 doubleheader at Cleveland, the former Indians' farmhand tossed five scoreless innings of three-hit ball for his first big league victory in a team shutout...Former SWB player (1994-95) Charlie Montoyo got his 500th win as Durham's manager last night...Melky Mesa became the fourth man in the minors to reach 70 strikeouts...He also had two hits in his four at-bats...He has whiffed in nine straight games, compiling 15 strikeouts in that time...His 70 strikeouts have come in 170 at-bats, meaning he has struck out in more than 41% of his ABs...He has just four walks and none since April 14...He had three of the four free passes during the season-opening series against Pawtucket...Zoilo Almonte bounced into his 10th groundball double play of the season...That total leads the IL and ranks second in all of MiLB, trailing just Raul Fortunato's 11 with Low-A West Virginia (Pirates) in the South Atlantic League...Mark Montgomery issued a career-high four walks in 1.2 IP...He has 16 walks this season in 23.1 IP (6.2/9 IP)...That is more than twice his walk rate of 2012 when he issued 22 free passes over 64.1 IP.

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International League Stories from May 25, 2013


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