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IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

SWB RailRiders Game Notes

June 28, 2018 - International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE RAILRIDERS (37-39) @ LEHIGH VALLEY IRONPIGS (45-32)

LHP Nestor Cortes (1-3, 4.23) vs. RHP Tom Eshelman (1-6, 6.68)

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| Game No. 77 | Thursday June 28, 2018 | Coca-Cola Park | Allentown, PA |

| First Pitch 7:05 p.m. | Pregame Show 6:35 p.m. |

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LAST TIME OUT: Three runs in the first inning for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs was all they needed as they took the third game of a four-game series from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Wednesday night, 4-2.

A.J. Cole got the start for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and was expected to go multiple innings on Major League rehab, coming back from a strained left neck. He faced five batters, didn't record an out- allowing three hits and two walks- and was charged with all three runs the IronPigs scored in the bottom of the first inning. He tossed 26 pitches (14 strikes) before J.P. Feyereisen entered for two batters and recorded three outs thanks to a double play.

The anticipated starting pitcher for the RailRiders was Justus Sheffield, who instead entered out of the bullpen Wednesday in the the second inning. Sheffield went six shutout innings, striking out three while scattering six hits. His season ERA over nine games in Triple-A drops from 3.26 to 2.82.

The offense was paced by a pair of long-balls. The scoring began with a home run from Brandon Drury in the top of the first inning with two outs for the early 1-0 lead. Then when the RailRiders were trailing 3-1, Billy McKinney drew them back to within a run at 3-2 with a towering opposite-field homer in the 4th inning. It was the team-leading 10th home run of the season for McKinney, who is second in the minors since May 29 which is when all of his home runs have come since coming off the Disabled List.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre gears up for the finale of the four-game series against the IronPigs Thursday at Coca-Cola Park. The RailRiders send LHP Nestor Cortes (1-3, 4.23) to the mound against RHP Tom Eshelman (1-6, 6.68) for Lehigh Valley. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with pregame coverage set for 6:35 p.m. with Adam Marco and Adam Giardino.

WORKING BACK: Wednesday night, RHP A.J. Cole faced five batters, didn't record an out and allowed three runs. Cole joins RHP Tommy Kahnle and RHP Adam Warren as three pitchers who have appeared with the RailRiders in 2018 on rehab. In their three rehab appearances: 1.2 IP, 6 H (6-for-10, .600 BAA), 8R/8ER (43.20 ERA), 4 BB, 2 HBP (7.20 WHIP), K

NEEDING SOME LENGTH: Due to Monday's off-day, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders bullpen was well-rested entering Tuesday's game even though the pitching staff has not been able to provide much depth at the start of games. LHP Josh Rogers is the one pitcher who has consistently given SWB starts that save the bullpen. This season, Rogers has gone 6.0+ innings in 10-of-15GS (66.7%), while the rest of the team has just 11 such starts in the other 61G (18.0%).

CAN'T QUITE GET THERE: Over the last 16 games, the RailRiders own a 10-6 record to bring them up to as high as 4th place in the International League North standings. The RailRiders left Rochester, N.Y. Sunday afternoon following a suspended game, having not lost any of their last four series. Entering Wednesday night's loss, the RailRiders were trying to draw themselves back to .500 for the first time since being 19-19 May 17 (Game No. 38). Instead they will go for a fifth straight series without a loss (Last 4 Series: 3-0-1).

PUTTING OUT FIRES: The RailRiders continue to get a strong performance out of its bullpen over the last week-plus. In 9G since June 17, the bullpen arms not named Giovanny Gallegos have combined for 28.2 IP, 15 H, 3R/3ER (0.94 ERA), 7 BB, 26 K (8.2 K/9). Gallegos had struggled over his last three appearances with the RailRiders, allowing runs in all 3G: 4.2 IP, 7 H (7-for-21, .333 BAA), 4R/4ER, 0 BB, 8 K. However, upon arriving in the big leagues, earlier this week he went 3.0 IP without allowing a run and striking out 6 batters. In two appearances with the New York Yankees this season, the righty has tossed five scoreless innings with 7 K and 0 BB.

POWERING UP: In the blink of an eye, the SWB RailRiders are the leading HR-hitting team in the International League. At the end of April, the team had 15 HR in 23G (0.65 HR/G) which was good for 6th in the 14-team I.L. Since then, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has 61 HR in its last 52G (1.17 HR/G) including 29 in 24G so far in June (1.21 HR/G).

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