IL Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

SWB RailRiders Game Notes

Published on June 1, 2021 under International League (IL)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


Lehigh Valley IronPigs (13-11) vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (16-6)

LHP Cristopher Sanchez (1-1, 3.50 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Green (0-0, 4.97 ERA)

| Game 23 | Home Game 11 | PNC Field | Moosic, PA | June 1, 2021 | First Pitch 6:35 p.m. |

FAST OUT OF THE GATE: With 16 wins in 22 games, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders have kept themselves in elite company across minor league baseball. Entering play on Tuesday there are only 16 teams across minor league baseball with at least 16 wins, with only Omaha, Durham and Nashville at that mark among Triple-A East teams. Nashville (AAA, MIL) has the best record in minor league baseball at 18-5 on the season, and is the only team with 18 wins. Overall, the Yankees have the best organizational record in baseball (62-30, .674), a full 4.0 games better than Baltimore (57-33, .633), who has the second-best record.

BULLISH ON THE 'PEN: The RailRiders bullpen has been the backbone of the pitching staff in the early part of the season and the last three games against Buffalo have been no exception. Six different SWB relievers combined to throw 13.0 shutout innings against the Bisons since the beginning of play on Wednesday. What's more, they've combined to allow just six baserunners -- two on hit batsmen (both by Adam Warren), one walk (issued by Kyle Barraclough) and three hits (all singles, two of which were infield hits). Incredibly, 43 Buffalo batters have managed to hit only six balls out of the infield against RailRiders relievers in this stretch, while striking out 17 times. The SWB bullpen ERA is down to 3.40 on the season, while the unit is averaging 11.63 K/9. That ranks as the 7th-best bullpen ERA in Triple-A East, and third-best in the Northeast Div. (Buffalo, 2.37; Worcester, 2.93).

DINGER ALERT: After shattering the SWB franchise record with 212 home runs in 2019 (previously 164 in 1998), the RailRiders are at it again, hitting 31 home runs in their first 22 games this season. The 31 round-trippers hit by SWB puts the club in a tie for fifth place in Triple-A East with Charlotte. Durham leads the league with 42 long balls. The RailRiders are tied for 17th in minor league baseball in home runs, with Salt Lake (AAA, LAA) leading the minors with 45. The long ball surge has been a true team effort, as only Chris Gittens and Trey Amburgey (t-27th, 4) rank in the top 45 in home runs in Triple-A East.

WALK-A-THON: Through 22 games this season, the RailRiders have drawn 117 walks, the second-most in all of Triple-A baseball, trailing only Gwinnett (137). No other team in the minors' highest level has taken more than 113 bases on balls (Lehigh Valley). Overall, the RailRiders are 11th in all of minor league baseball in walks, with St. Lucie (Low-A, NYM) leading the way with 162 walks. SWB's team .362 OBP is third in Triple-A East, and ranks t-11th across all levels of the minors. There are currently three teams in Triple-A East with team OBPs of .350 or higher. Lehigh Valley (.342) has the eighth-best OBP of the 20-team league. Amazingly, among qualified hitters, only Socrates Brito (t-46th, .341) ranks in the top 50 in OBP in Triple-A East among SWB batters.

THREE DOZEN SIDES OF BACON: The COVID-19 pandemic has created one of the most unusual season schedules in the history of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre franchise. With the season beginning a full month later than traditional, all teams in Triple-A East will play 120-game schedules. The RailRiders, along with the rest of the Northeast Division teams, will exclusively play teams within the division. This leads to a schedule where SWB plays the rival Lehigh Valley IronPigs an unprecedented 36 times. For perspective, the RailRiders play the Rochester Red Wings and the Buffalo Bisons a combined 36 times. The RailRiders currently lead the 2021 IronRail Series 4-2.

THAT'S ALL THEY GOT, ONE HIT?: On Thursday, May 27, three Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders pitchers combined for a seven-inning one-hitter against the Buffalo Bisons. The trio of Brian Keller, Sal Romano, and Nick Goody did not allow a baserunner after the fourth inning, and combined to retire the final 11 Bisons batters. It was the first one-hitter thrown by the RailRiders since 2016, when Chad Green tossed a one-hitter at Gwinnett on July 14. Overall, it was the sixth one-hitter in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre franchise history. The RailRiders have thrown four no-hitters in franchise history.

+ The first one-hitter in SWB history came in the team's inaugural 1989 season, when Pat Combs threw one on August 19 at Pawtucket.

+ The SWB Red Barons got two one-hitters in the 1991 season, the first from Andy Ashby on July 22 vs Richmond and the second authored by John Burgos on August 16 vs Columbus. These were the first two one-hitters thrown by SWB at Lackawanna County Stadium.

+ It was 11 years until the next SWB one-hitter, with Brett Myers allowing one base hit to Toledo on April 25 at home. This was the last one-hitter in the Red Barons era (1989-2006), and also the last home one-hitter thrown by SWB until Thursday night.

+ Chad Green had the first one-hitter under the Yankees affiliation (2007 - Present) in 2016 at Coolray Field against the Gwinnett Braves.

+ Thursday night represented the first combined one-hitter and also the first seven-inning one hitter in franchise history.

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International League Stories from June 1, 2021


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