Columbus Crushes Four Homers in Lopsided Loss
Columbus, Ohio - The tailspin continues. On Sunday night, the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) found out just how home-run friendly Huntington Park can be. Dave Miley's team blew a 3-0 first-inning lead as the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians) hit four home runs and roared back for a 10-4 victory. The RailRiders have lost seven of eight and nine of 12 in falling to .500 (21-21) for the first time since they were 11-11. The Clippers (26-18) own a season-best five-game winning streak and have taken nine of 11.
Dan Johnson's team tri-leading fifth homer made it 3-0 in the first against one of the top pitchers in the minors, Trevor Bauer. Then came the bottom half of the frame when the Clippers posted their own three-run inning thanks to a two-run homer by Cord Phelps. While Addison Maruszak's run-scoring single put SWB ahead in the second, it was a frustrating frame. Walks to Corban Joseph and Brennan Boesch followed Maruszak's hit to load the bases. However, three-hole hitter Zoilo Almonte struck out and Ronnier Mustelier grounded out to leave the bases full.
Two innings later, Matt Lawson's homer tied the game at 4-all, but the fifth would prove fatal as all nine Clippers came to the plate and five came around. Starter Caleb Cotham got the hook after allowing back-to-back jacks to Jeremy Hermida and Phelps. Those were the first two of six straight Columbus hits that included run-scoring blows by Lawson and Omir Santos. The streak was snapped on an RBI sac bunt from the speedy Ezequiel Carrera.
Cotham (0-2) gave up six runs on eight hits and one walk over his 4.1 innings. He struck out six and allowed all four Columbus homers. Bauer (2-0) struggled with his command as he walked five and allowed six hits over six innings, but earned the win.
On Monday night the RailRiders will look to staff ace Chris Bootcheck (4-0, 3.00) against fellow right-hander Joe Martinez (1-2, 4.53). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with pregame coverage starting at 6:35 p.m. on NEPA Sports Radio - The GAME, Northeast PA's largest sports radio network: 100.7 FM, 1340 WYCK-AM, 1400 WICK-AM, 1440 WCDL-AM and 106.7 FM. The Voice of the RailRiders, John Sadak, will be on the call.
OFF THE RAILS:
During the game, the Yankees announced that infielder Luke Murton had been placed on the disabled list.
Brennan Boesch singled once and walked three times. He also scored a run.
Addison Maruszak continues to enjoy success against Columbus. He is hitting .400 (8-for-20) against the Clippers and just .165 (14-for-85) against the rest of the IL.
Thomas Neal, who was with the Indians last year including some time with the big league team, walked twice, stole a bag and scored a run. He has reached base five times in eight plate appearances on the series.
After his first true off day of the season, Zoilo Almonte went 0-for-5. He struck out twice and twice grounded out on first-pitch contact. Outside of Saturday's series opener, Almonte had played in every other game this season. Dave Miley tried to give him a day off on May 8 against Indianapolis, but Dan Johnson got ejected late in the game and Almonte was forced to enter as the RailRiders juggled things defensively. In his lone plate appearance as the tying run with two outs, he made an out and lost his 12-game hitting streak.
Every man in the Clippers' nine had a hit and seven of the nine had an RBI. The team finished with 10 runs on 16 hits. Matt Lawson, who has 19 career triples, fell a three-base hit short of the cycle.
The RailRiders are assured of a losing road trip as they are now 1-5 on the eight-game journey. During that time, the starters' ERA is a composite 9.22. Opponents are hitting .355 against SWB starters on the road trip.
The RailRiders have not had their starter post a win since Brett Marshall got the victory against Indianapolis on May 7.
Caleb Cotham has allowed a home run in each of his first three Triple-A outings. His Sunday difficulties lifted the total to seven in 13 innings pitched and surged his ERA to 9.00.
Dan Johnson has just two hits against the Clippers in 15 at-bats, but both are homers off of notable names. On Sunday night it was Trevor Bauer. On April 23 it was Daisuke Matsuzaka. Bauer has only allowed three Triple-A home runs. Two have been hit by SWB. The other came on April 24 off the bat of the since-released Cody Johnson (no relation to Dan). Matsuzaka, who has been sidelined since April 28 with an oblique injury, has only allowed the one home run over his 20.2 innings.
- SWB RailRiders - All Aboard! -