Tidal Wave of Baserunners Mean Victory in Toledo
Toledo, Ohio - The SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) amassed a mighty offensive that overwhelmed the host Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers) on Monday night, 8-4 The RailRiders (37-28) collected 15 hits, worked seven walks and placed two men on with bruises en route to their sixth win in seven games. SWB's season-high-tying fourth straight road win has assured it of a winning road trip. The Mud Hens (28-35) lost for the eighth time in 11 games.
The RailRiders put their leadoff man on in seven of the nine innings, but Toledo scored the game's first run when John Hicks' two-out double drove Chad Huffman home in the second inning.
SWB plated a pair in the third on Nick Swisher's single to right that was errantly misplayed by Anthony Gose. In the fourth, Luis Severino fired a wild pitch that allowed Casey McGehee to streak home from third base for a 2-2 draw.
The RailRiders' big inning came in the sixth. A bruise to Cesar Puello, a two-run homer by Donovan Solano and a Jake Cave double chased starter Matt Crouse (1-1) before an out was recorded. Pete Kozma singled in a tally and Swisher added a run-scoring poke of his own for a four-run frame.
Cave knocked in a run when he reached on a fielder's choice in the seventh. Hicks began the bottom half of that frame with a solo homer and Ben Gamel doubled a run home in the eighth for an 8-3 SWB lead.
Toledo made it interesting in the ninth. Conor Mullee, who entered to start the eighth, got the hook after his 45th pitch resulted in a walk to Jacoby Jones. With a run already in on a Jonathan Diaz throwing error, Johnny Barbato entered to face the league leader in slugging and extra-base hits, Steven Moya, with the tying run on deck. Barbato got his first save of the season by inducing a fly-out to right to end the game.
Starter Luis Severino (2-0) got the win with seven innings of three-run, five-hit ball. He walked two and struck out eight.
The series continues at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday as SWB's Brady Lail (2-2, 3.43) faces fellow righty Thad Weber (5-4, 3.03).
The RailRiders return home for a seven-day, six-game homestand on Friday, June 17. It starts with the first of three against the Gwinnett Braves (Atlanta Braves) at 7:05 p.m. The Glow-in-the-Park Friday will see the RailRiders wear their alternate black and neon-green uniforms and post-game fireworks, the latter presented by Jack Williams Tire and Auto. The first 2,500 fans will receive RailRiders shoelaces courtesy of Planet Fitness, which will also present a Man vs. Marathon promotion. Post-game festivities include Dave "The Bullet" Smith, Jr., "The Human Cannonball", courtesy of the PA Turnpike. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.
OFF THE RAILS:
Ben Gamel fell a home run shy of the cycle. He went 3-for-5 with an RBI double, a triple, a walk and two runs scored.
Through three Triple-A starts, Luis Severino has struck out 19 in 16.2 innings. He also allowed a home run for the first time at the Triple-A level.
All nine men in SWB's posted at least one hit.
The RailRiders went 3-for-16 with men in scoring position and stranded a season-high-tying 12 men on base.
Nick Swisher went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a walk.
Cesar Puello had a 2-for-4 showing and was hit by a pitch for the team-high ninth time, tying him for the sixth-most bruises in minor league baseball.
Al Pedrique's club has scored 41 runs through four games on the road trip.
Conor Mullee allowed his first Triple-A run since May 3. He had 10 straight scoreless appearances over 18.1 innings before giving up an unearned tally on Monday. He still lowered his ERA to 0.59.
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