SWB RailRiders Game Notes

July 2, 2018 - International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release

SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE RAILRIDERS (40-40) vs. BUFFALO BISONS (38-37)

LHP Justus Sheffield (1-3, 2.28) vs. RHP Chris Rowley (5-4, 3.14)

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

LAST TIME OUT: The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders failed to get the series sweep as they fell to the Pawtucket Red Sox 2-0 on a sweltering Sunday afternoon at PNC Field.

The RailRiders threatened in the bottom of the second as Ryan McBroom and Mark Payton each singled but were then left stranded. The PawSox pushed the first and only runs of the game across in the top of the fourth inning. Mike Ohlman walked and Sam Travis hit his fifth home run of the season to give Pawtucket a 2-0 lead.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre recorded only two more hits through the next seven innings as McBroom doubled in the fourth and Wilkin Castillo singled in the eighth. Pawtucket starting pitcher Josh A. Smith went five innings allowing three hits and striking out five RailRiders hitters. Trevor Kelley and Fernando Rodriguez combined to throw four innings for the PawSox allowing only one hit.

Cale Coshow threw well in relief for the RailRiders going two innings without allowing a base runner and striking out two. Cody Carroll also had a solid outing, throwing two innings allowing only one hit. Tommy Kahnle worked a perfect ninth. McBroom had a great day at the plate going two-for-four with a double. Mark Payton and Wilkin Castillo each had a single. Billy McKinney and Zack Zehner had hitting streaks snapped at five games.

BUFFALOED THEIR WAY BACK: Over the last 19 games before Sunday's loss to Pawtucket the RailRiders owned a 13-6 record to bring them up to 2nd place in the International League North standings. After taking the first two games from Pawtucket in their three-game series, the RailRiders are 4-0-2 in their last six series. The RailRiders entered the series against Pawtucket trying to draw themselves back to .500 for the first time since being 19-19 May 17 (Game No. 38) and had been 0-5 in five chances to get back to .500 since May 17 before Friday's 7-4 win. With Saturday night's win, the RailRiders are above .500 and in 2nd place in the I.L. North for the first time since April 25 (10-9).

WINGING IT: 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 RHP Giovanny Gallegos or rehabber RHP A.J. Cole had combined for 44.2 IP, 26 H (5.2 H/9), 9R/9ER (1.81 ERA). 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. He has since been optioned back to the RailRiders roster and must report by mid-week.

STILL A LITTLE BLACK AND BLEU: Wednesday night, RHP A.J. Cole faced five batters, didn't record an out and allowed three runs in a starting role against Lehigh Valley. Cole joined RHP Tommy Kahnle and RHP Adam Warren as three pitchers who have appeared with the RailRiders in 2018 on rehab. Saturday, Cole returned to the mound and went 2.1 innings with 3H, 2R/2ER while throwing 34 pitches. In the trio's four MLB Rehab Appearances: 3.1 IP, 9 H (9-for-18, .300 BAA), 10R/10ER (27.00 ERA), 5 BB, 2 HBP (4.80 WHIP), 2 K

EXTRA SAUCE: In the blink of an eye, the SWB RailRiders are the leading HR-hitting team in the International Leagueas the month of June came to a close. 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 65 HR in its last 55G (1.18 HR/G) including 33 in 27G in June (1.22 HR/G) which tied with the Columbus Clippers for the league lead.

Check out the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Statistics

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SWB RailRiders Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

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