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IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

SWB Game Notes

April 10, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


LAST TIME OUT: The RailRiders saved their best for last. In the sixth inning of a seven-inning game, the team batted around to put a six-spot on the board in a 7-2 defeat of the Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins) at PNC Field on Friday night. The victory followed a 3-0 loss in the conclusion of Thursday's suspended season opener.

SEASON OPENERS: The SWB franchise has traditionally not fared well in season openers. Since it first moved to NEPA in 1989, SWB has gone 10-18 when it was time to "Play Ball". The first-ever season-opening win did not come until year three for the team in 1991, a 9-2 triumph over Syracuse. SWB had claimed game one in both 2014 and 2015 against Syracuse, but lost this year's lid lifter to Rochester, 3-0.

SMALL WORLD: SWB suffered its first season-opening shutout loss since the homeless 2012 squad began its division-winning campaign with a 3-0 loss at Lehigh Valley. The winning pitcher for the host IronPigs that day? Tyler Cloyd, who struck out eight over six no-hit innings. Now a RailRider, Cloyd tossed four frames of one-run ball in relief once the suspended game concluded on Friday.

FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME: The season-opening shutout was the second ever suffered by SWB at home and the first since a 9-0 setback to the Richmond Braves in 1993. First-rounder Brad Brink, who ultimately made 14 career MLB appearances between the Phillies and Giants, took the loss for the Red Barons, while Mike Birkbeck got the first of his team-best 13 wins for Grady Little's team.

EASY EDDY: Eddy Rodriguez broke the seal in the victory with a bases-loaded single that drove in a pair of runs for a 3-2 lead in the fateful sixth. Run-scoring blows from Jonathan Diaz and Ben Gamel followed later in the frame.

GETTING OFF THE SCHNEID: In the fourth inning of Friday's scheduled affair, Cesar Puello delivered the RailRiders' first run of 2016 with a two-out single that plated Slade Heathcott. It halted a 12-inning scoreless drought.

HOT START: Heathcott went 5-for-7 over the two games. The only other RailRider with multiple hits to start the young year is Aaron Judge, who has gone 2-for-8 with a double.

RED WINGING IT: The RailRiders entered last season with losses in 10 of 11 at Rochester's home, Frontier Field, and setbacks in 17 of 22 overall. That hurt the team en route to a 5-11 performance against the Red Wings in 2014, the franchise's first losing ledger against Rochester since the 2007 unit also went 5-11. The 2015 squad bounced back to earn 11 wins in 20 meetings with the Red Wings. The RailRiders also bested the second-place Red Wings by 4.0 games to claim the IL North title. While SWB won as much as it lost at Rochester last season (5-5), the RailRiders have dropped 15 of their last 21 in the Flower City.

BRRR: The RailRiders have hit the road for their first journey away from PNC Field this season. Saturday's scheduled opener for this season was postponed until April 29 due to forecasted frigid temperatures and biting winds. As a result, the teams will play a short one-game series at Frontier Field this afternoon.

ROSTER ROLL CALL: This year's SWB club touts six of the Yankees' Top 30 prospects according to Baseball America and multiple returning stars. The prospect list is highlighted by catcher Gary Sanchez (No. 2) and Judge in the outfield (No. 3). The publication has dubbed Judge as the Yankees' "Best Power Hitter" in the minors and the owner of the farm's "Best Outfield Arm".

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