IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

SWB Game Notes

Published on August 30, 2014 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


ABOUT LAST NIGHT: A back-and-forth contest went the way of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Friday night at Coca-Cola Park. The deciding knock came in the sixth inning when Tony Gwynn Jr. coaxed a double to right-center field to erase a two-run deficit and tilt the game to its end result, a 6-5 loss. The defeat marked the Scranton/Wilkes-RailRiders' ninth in its last 11 games and also gave the IronPigs the 2014 IronRail trophy.

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR STINKIN' TROPHY: The RailRiders dropped the second annual chase for the IronRail trophy last night by losing the season series, 9-4.Last years unit trailed the race heading into the final series and claimed victories in three of the final four clashes to claim the inaugural IronRail trophy, including the final contest.

LIVING ON THE EDGE: Edgmer Escalona spun two innings of relief in last night's 6-5 loss to Lehigh Valley. Escalona was on the bump when Tony Gwynn Jr. erased a two-run deficit with a bases clearing double to slate Escalona with his second straight loss. Over his last two outings, Escalona has been tagged for 4R and 4H in 2.2IP (15.43 ERA). In his prior 17 app. for SWB, Escalona carried a ledger of 1-0-4 in 27.2IP while allowing just 3ER (0.98 ERA). Yesterday's loss marked the first time Escalona has been tagged for a loss in back-to-back appearances since 2010 when he dropped three straight decision from August 14-19 with the Colorado Spring Sky Sox (Colorado Rockies).

LOOKOUT BELOW!: At 66-75 the RailRiders are a seasons worst nine games under .500 and have gone 1-4 over their last five games and conversely have lost nine of their last 11 contests. The downward spiral has come on the heels of one of the club's longest runs of success, when the RailRiders won five straight over the Pawtucket Red and Syracuse Chiefs from Aug. 15-19.

WE'RE GOING STREAKING: Prior to Wednesday's contest the Yankees activated outfielder Adonis Garcia from the SWB disabled list. Garcia has appeared in three of the RailRiders' last four contests to extend his team-best hit streak to 20 games. The run began directly out of the All-Star break with a 1-for-4 night on July 17 and took a slight hiatus when Garcia hit on the DL on Aug. 5. During the run of success, Garcia has hit .398/.420/.554 with nine extra-base hits. The streak is his third hit streak of 10 or more games, besting his previous highs of 11G (April 9-23) and 17G (May 5-20). The run is the best active hitting streak in the IL and only Buffalo's Kevin Pillar has strung together more hits, accomplishing a 21-game run from July 25-August 14. The SWB record is 27 straight, when Pablo Ozuna set the ante in 2004.

DOWN ON THE FARM: Last night the Tampa Yankees (Advanced-A/Florida State League) fell 8-4 at the hands of the Daytona Cubs, eliminating the Baby Bombers from playoff contention. With the loss, all four of the Yankees' full-season affiliates have been eliminated from playoff contention, with only the Tampa Yankees carrying a record currently above .500 at 70-63. Short-Season Staten Island is still technically in the hunt for a playoff berth, but with an elimination number resting at one, and three teams ahead of them in the NYPL Wild Card standings, any combination of an SI-Yankees loss or Brooklyn Cyclones win (New York Mets) will eliminate them. Since 2005, only one season has a full-season Yankees affiliate failed to make the postseason, 2011. That year, only Staten Island made an appearance in postseason play, with the SI-Yanks besting Auburn in the NYPL Final two games to none. Current RailRider Matt Tracy spun the series clinching game, besting Durham's Nate Karns.

UNDER MY PIRELA: The RailRiders' versatile leadoff man was named the International League's All-Star second baseman on the year-end squad. Pirela ranks among the IL's leaders in batting average (5th, .307), hits (1st, 163), runs scored (1st, 87) and total bases (2nd, 236). The 24-year-old was the IL's starting second baseman at July's Triple-A All-Star Game and earned the league's Player of the Month honors for June. Pirela has spent the majority of his time this season at second base. He has also seen time in all three-outfield spots, at shortstop and at first base along with select time as the squad's designated hitter. Pirela had never played center field, right field or first base in his stateside pro career before this season. He is the team's first player to receive year-end honors since Jorge Vazquez as the DH in 2011. Pirela is the first SWB player to achieve post-season All-Star status at second base since Kevin Russo in 2009.

OFF THE RAILS: Kyle Roller extended his active five game hitting streak with a base hit in yesterday's contest...Four of the top 10 contact clip bats reside on the RailRiders' offense...Rob Refsndyer (3rd, .318), Jose Pirela (6th,.307), Taylor Dugas (9th,.301), Roller (10th, .299).

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International League Stories from August 30, 2014


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