IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

SWB Game Notes

Published on June 8, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES: Entering Friday, everything was coming up roses for the RailRiders. The rotation was arguably the best in Triple-A, a win streak was on, and everything was clicking for the offense that was part timely, part speedy and part powerful. But yesterday the most consistent cog in the heralded rotation, Chien-Ming Wang, opted out of his contract. Per Ken Rosenthal, he will sign with the Blue Jays and start for the big club on Tuesday. Then Vidal Nuno left with apparent injury after just 1.2 dominant innings. The bullpen at first picked him up and Ronnier Mustelier provided some offense with a two-out, two-run double. But late the RailRiders' most reliable bullpen option, Sam Demel, surrendered a go-ahead three-run homer to Corey Brown as the Syracuse Chiefs rallied for a 4-2 victory. The RailRiders were held to a season-low-tying three hits by a trio of hurlers that included former SWB man Ross Ohlendorf.

GOOD TIMES, GREAT CAUSE: Today from 1-3 p.m., the RailRiders host their annual Allied Services Pediatric Program Auction and Autograph Party. Tickets are just $5 and include entry to the party as well as one randomly selected player autograph table. Additional player autograph table tickets may be purchased at the gate for $5 to ensure fans get their favorite RailRiders' autographs. Auction items include sports memorabilia, gift certificates to local businesses and gift baskets. Fans can also bid on special RailRiders Autism Awareness game-worn jerseys that the team will don tonight against Buffalo. All proceeds will benefit the many pediatric services within the Allied Services Integrated Health System.

ADD IT UP: Addison Maruszak extended his season-long hitting streak to 11 games with his seventh-inning single. During his string of success, he has hit .368 (14-for-38) with four doubles, one triple, one homer, seven RBIs and nine runs scored. He has lifted his season-long contact clip from .194 on May 17 to .245. Before the streak, he had not owned an average that good since May 7. Should he connect in his next contest, Maruszak would tie Zoilo Almonte's 12-game run from April 25-May 7 for the team's best hit streak of 2013. It is the fourth-longest active streak in the IL.

THE MOOSE IS LOOSE: Mustelier's double to deep center was the only SWB hit before the seventh and provided all of the team's runs. Entering play on May 14, he was a .167 hitter with two RBIs and two extra-base hits. He has hit safely in 20 of 22 since then, connecting at a .361 (35-for-97) clip with three home runs, 19 RBIs and an OPS of .902. He has hit in nine straight and has reached safely with a hit or walk in 17 consecutive games.

BAKER'S DOZEN: The RailRiders saw their run of consecutive contests with a home run stall at seven last night. The team belted 13 homers during that stretch, including three by the team's home run leader, Melky Mesa.

TOUGH TIMES: Mesa struck out twice on an 0-for-4 night as he became the third man in minor league baseball to reach 90 strikeouts. It marked the eighth time in his last 12 games that he whiffed multiple times. Mesa is currently on pace to strike out 220 times this season. That would shatter the franchise record of 166 set by Jorge Vazquez in 2011. Vazquez finished as the IL's runner-up to the strikeout king that year, Ryan Strieby (171/TOL). However, Vazquez also led the IL with 32 homers and fell one RBI short of Stefan Gartrell's league-leading total (94/GWN).

RAIN KINGS: The RailRiders will have each of their next six meetings with Buffalo at PNC Field. But when they next journey to Buffalo, twinbills will be part of their stays. Each of the first three games scheduled between the clubs at Buffalo got rained out. While one of those games was made up in an April 14 doubleheader, the other two will take place on the first day of SWB's next two trips to Coca-Cola Field on July 13 and August 8.

Check out the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Statistics

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International League Stories from June 8, 2013


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