SWB Blanks Bisons on Bullpen Day

Buffalo, N.Y. - The SWB RailRiders' (Triple-A/New York Yankees) domination of the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) continued on Sunday afternoon with a 5-0 blanking at Coca-Cola Field. The RailRiders (59-34) have won 10 of their last 12 overall and 26 of 36, while the Bisons (38-56) have lost 33 of their last 40 along with 12 straight versus SWB. Going back to last season, the RailRiders have won 27 of the last 33 head-to-head meetings with the Bisons.
With scheduled starter Domingo Germán called up to the bigs, the RailRiders turned to Joe Mantiply for his fifth spot start of the season. The lefty delivered a career-best four innings of shutout, two-hit baseball to set the tone. Nestor Cortes (1-2) followed with five frames of scoreless, two-hit relief for his second career Triple-A triumph.
Offensively, Tyler Wade ignited the game with a leadoff ground-rule double. Wade, playing his first game action in a week and his first Triple-A affair in roughly three weeks, then swiped third for his Triple-A-best 25^th steal and scored on Rob Refsnyder 's sac fly.
SWB added single scores in the second when Mason Williams bounced into a run-scoring double play, in the third on Miguel Andújar 's sac fly and in the sixth on a two-out double by Eddy Rodriguez . The last blow chased starter Brett Oberholtzer (1-7) who gave up four runs on 10 hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. Refsnyder blasted a two-out homer to right in the ninth off of Chris Smith to round out the scoring.
The RailRiders return home on Monday, July 17 to open a seven-game homestand. It starts with the first of three against the Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles) at 7:05 p.m. The RailRiders were expected to start IL All-Star Caleb Smith (8-0, 2.07), but he was also called up by the Yankees on Sunday. SWB's starting spot is now TBA. Norfolk is scheduled to start former New York Met Gabriel Ynoa (1-8, 7,64). The Dollar Dog Monday will sport $1 hot dogs, $1 lawn tickets and the chance to bring your pup to the ballpark for just $1, all presented by the Times-Tribune. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.
OFF THE RAILS:
The RailRiders recorded their 11^th shutout win of the year while Buffalo endured its league-worst 13^th shutout loss.
Tyler Wade went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and his Triple-A best 25^th stolen base.
Rob Refsnyder homered on a 3-for-4 day with a sac fly.
Miguel Andujar went 2-for-4 with a sac fly. He has hit safely in six straight games, lifting his Triple-A average by 45 points from .255-.299.
Cito Culver snapped an 0-for-20 funk with a pair of hits including a double.
Jake Cave went 2-for 4 with a run scored and has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games. He is hitting .320 in 27 games played with SWB.
Jonathan Diaz reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored against his former club.
Buffalo has lost 33 of its last 40 games and has been held to one run or less in 19 of those setbacks including eight shutouts. SWB has held Buffalo to one run or less in eight of the last nine head-to-head match-ups.
The RailRiders have outscored the Bisons 53-11 during its 12-game winning streak in the head-to-head series.
- SWB RailRiders Baseball - The Place to Be! -