IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

SWB Game Notes

Published on May 29, 2016 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


ABOUT LAST NIGHT: In his first start since his sophomore year of college, lefty Tyler Webb set the tone with four scoreless innings and a career-high-tying six strikeouts as his RailRiders shut out the Tides at Harbor Park on Saturday night, 2-0. The RailRiders' league-high-tying eighth shutout win was also the Tides' league-worst 10th shutout loss.

WEBB SLINGER: Webb needed just 58 pitches (40 strikes) to toss his four frames of two-hit, no-walk baseball. He had not started over his first 115 appearances as a pro including nine in the Arizona Fall League. The 25-year-old Virginia native, who pitched his high-school ball just an hour's drive north of Harbor Park, had last started in 2011 while with the eventual national champion University of South Carolina Gamecocks.

WE BELIEVE IN YOU KYLE!: Catcher Kyle Higashioka gave the RailRiders the only run they would need with his first Triple-A home run, a first-pitch job to left in the third inning off starter Joe Gunkel (1-3). His first two starts behind the plate with SWB this season have each been shutout wins. He entered 2016 as a .233 career hitter before slashing .286/.338/.437/.775 in 34 games as the primary catcher for Double-A Trenton to start this season.

BULLISH 'PEN: In his first SWB appearance, the recently waiver-claimed Layne Somsen (1-0) got the win in relief with two innings of one-hit ball and four strikeouts. Conor Mullee allowed just one baserunner on an error over his two innings before handing the baton to Anthony Swarzak, who struck out two in a perfect ninth for his fifth save in as many tries.

ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMIN: Ben Gamel ended the season's first month with a .321 average after a two-hit day and a homer at Rochester on April 30. He then entered a .155 (9-for-58, 12K) funk over his next 14 Triple-A games. In four games played since, he has gone 7-for-17 (.412) with a homer, three RBIs and five runs scored. He went 1-for-4 with his team-best ninth steal and a run scored on Saturday.

GUESS WHO'S BACK?: In his first Triple-A game in a dozen days, Rob Refsnyder started at third base as the three-hole hitter. He went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.

I'M JUST A CAVE MAN: Hampton, Va. native Jake Cave went 1-for-3 with a walk. He was thrown out at the plate to end the fifth by center fielder L.J. Hoes. Cave attended high school just 30 minutes away from Harbor Park.

KINGS OF THE NORTH: The defending division champion RailRiders entered today in sole possession of first place in the North, tied in the loss column with Syracuse. Al Pedrique's team outright leads the IL in wins (29) and winning percentage (.580). The club has won 12 of its last 16.

TOWER POWER: The game saw two different delays due to the failure of a first-base-side light tower. The first came with Donovan Solano at the plate, down 1-2 in the count during the top of the fifth. After a 15-minute delay, he struck out looking. The next half-inning, the lights went out again with the bases empty and two outs just before Francisco Pena stood in against Somsen. After a 16-minute delay, Pena jumped ahead 3-0 in the count before he walked on five pitches.

OFF THE RAILS: Norfolk owns Triple-A's worst record at 17-33 and has not scored in 24 straight innings...SWB, which improved to a season-best eight games above .500 and an IL-best 29-21 overall, has not allowed a run in 22 consecutive frames...The club tossed a season-high 28 straight scoreless innings from April 12-14, a run that included its only other set of back-to-back shutout wins, at Pawtucket on April 13 and versus Syracuse on April 14 in 11 innings...The RailRiders lowered their ERA to a now IL-best 2.80...With a 3-1 loss at Pawtucket, Indianapolis' ERA rose to 2.81...All seven of Norfolk's hits on the series have been singles. That included three on Saturday night, two on the infield...Norfolk's Ron Johnson managed his 626th career game for the Tides, breaking a tie with current Buffalo skipper Gary Allenson for the most in franchise history.

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International League Stories from May 29, 2016


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