Mitchell Stumps Red Sox as RailRiders Snap Pawtucket's Run
Moosic, Pa. - Behind seven shutout frames from starting pitcher Bryan Mitchell, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) halted the Pawtucket Red Sox (Boston Red Sox) 11-game winning streak with a 3-1 win Sunday afternoon at PNC Field in the third game of the four-game series. The loss marked the first for Pawtucket in the last 15-days and snapped the RailRiders' two-game losing skid.
Mitchell carried a no-hit bid into the fourth inning, recording four strikeouts his first time through Pawtucket's order. Mookie Betts thwarted the no-no when he lifted a broken-bat flare to right in the visiting fourth. Mitchell responded by retiring his next three in a row to end the frame and 11-of-12 until Ryan Lavarnway's ground-rule double to right field in the seventh. Mitchell (2-1) departed after the seventh scoreless innings, needing just 82 pitches to face 23 batters en route to his second-straight win at Triple-A.
Pawtucket's Matt Barnes was equally as efficient early, firing four scoreless until the RailRiders' offense tagged him for a crooked number in the home fifth. Corban Joseph's hot-streak continued, lifting a one-out single to left before a wild pitch allowed him to take second. A walk to Taylor Dugas gave the RailRiders runners at first and second, while Jose Pirela collected his 42 RBI of the season on a bouncing ball to left that made the score 1-0. The crooked number was hung on Zoilo Almonte's bases loaded walk that plated Dugas from third for the two-run lead.
The RailRiders added some needed insurance with a timely base hit and a routine ground ball. Almonte reached on a four-pitch walk and went first-to-third on Adonis Garcia's single to right. With runners at the corners, Kyle Roller's ground ball double play plated Almonte from third for the 3-0 lead.
Edgmer Escalona (2) danced around a two-out fielding error and pair of hits in the ninth inning to notch his second save in his last three outings. Barnes was slated with the loss, lasting just five innings and striking out six in the loss.
The RailRiders continue the ten-game homestand Monday, July 28 when SWB hosts Pawtucket for the final game of the four-game set at 7:05 p.m. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has yet to announce a starter, while the Red Sox counter with the righty Steven Wright (5-1, 2.21). John Sadak and Aaron Berlin will have the call on radio with the pregame show beginning at 6:35 p.m. on NEPA Sports Radio -The GAME, Northeast PA's largest radio network: 100.7 FM, 1340 WYCK-AM, 1400 WICK-AM, 1440 WCDL-AM and 106.7 FM. For season ticket information, single-game tickets or to book a ballpark group outing, call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailirders.com.
OFF THE RAILS
The seven-inning outing by Bryan Mitchell marked his longest outing at Triple-A and extended his current scoreless innings scoreless streak to 12 frames. The right-hander has not allowed a run since an outing at BB&T Ballpark against the Charlotte Knights on July 17.
Adonis Garcia went 2-for-4 with a double and extended his current hitting streak to 10 games with an extra-base hit in the fourth. During Garcia's run of success, the RailRiders' outfielder has gone 16-for-43 (.372) with five extra-base hits and six RBI.
Edgmer Escalona fired a scoreless ninth inning en route to his second save in three appearances. The outing marked Escalona's eighth this year with SWB without allowing an earned run. During that span Escalona has tossed 17 innings and allowed 12 hits and three runs (one earned) to his 11 strikeouts. His ERA as a member of the RailRiders' relief corps stands at 0.53.
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