Staten Island will play the winner of the West Virginia v. Williamsport series for the NYPL championship. West Virginia leads that series 1-0. That series would start I assume either Sunday or Monday.
LF Jake Cave: 0-3, 2 K — they didn’t get any help from the bottom of the lineup
LHP Eric Wooten: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 B, 2 K, 1 WP, 7/1 GB/FB — 47 of 84 pitches were strikes (56%), plus he picked a runner off first
RHP Cesar Vargas: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 7/0 GB/FB — 35 of 55 pitches were strikes (64%) … spared the bullpen for Game Three tomorrow night
Short Season Staten Island (10-5 win over Tri-City) they won the best-of-three series two games to none and have advanced to the NY-Penn League Championship Series … they’ll play the winner of the West Virginia vs. Williamsport series … West Virginia leads the series one game to none, Game Two is tomorrow and Game Three the next day, if necessary
2B Thairo Estrada: 3-6, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI — Autumn of Thairo continues … he went 6-for-10 with a walk in the two games
CF Jeff Hendrix: 2-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI — 4-for-10 with a walk in the series
LF Trey Amburgey: 1-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K
1B Ryan Krill: 1-5, 1 R, 2 K
RF Junior Valera: 2-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 K
DH Brandon Wagner: 1-2, 3 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB — two-run homer in the first gave them a nice and early 4-0 lead
3B Drew Bridges: 1-5, 2 RBI, 1 K
C Eduardo de Oleo: 3-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
SS Kyle Holder: 1-5, 1 RBI
RHP Domingo Acevedo: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 9/3 GB/FB — 57 of 82 pitches were strikes (70%) … boy, RHP James Kaprielian in Game One and Acevedo in Game Two are as good a 1-2 punch as you’ll find in short season ball
LHP James Reeves: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP — 20 of 28 pitches were strikes (71%)
RHP Matt Borens: 1.1 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 3/0 GB/FB — eight of 15 pitches were strikes (53%) … put out the fire before Reeves made the game interesting
RHP Yoel Espinal: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GB/FB — 14 of 20 pitches were strikes (20%)
The season is over for Double-A Trenton, High-A Tampa, Low-A Charleston, and both Rookie GCL Yanksaffiliates. None of them qualified for the postseason. Rookie Pulaski qualified for the playoffs but was eliminated in the first round.
Indianapolis, Ind. - The SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) sit on the brink. They never led on Thursday night as the host Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates) posted a 6-1 triumph at Victory Field in Game 2 of their opening-round Governors' Cup playoff series. The RailRiders now must win three straight games at home against the Tribe, or their season will be over.
Walks proved problematic for southpaw starter Eric Wooten (0-1). Willy Garcia began the home second with a walk, took second on a wild pitch and third on a subsequently errant throw from catcher Gary Sanchez. The next hitter, Josh Bell, singled to right to plate Garcia. An inning later, Steve Lombardozzi walked with the bases loaded to make it 2-0.
SWB got on the board in the fourth. With Ali Castillo on base and one out, IL Rookie of the YearBen Gamel doubled to right and Sanchez followed with an RBI groundout to second to score Castillo.
The one-run margin would not last long. Indy sent eight men to the plate in a four-run fifth to grab firm command of the game. Bell got the scoring going with a bases-loaded groundout to relieverCesar Vargas. Keon Broxton followed with a two-run single lined off Gregorio Petit's leaping glove at shortstop. Tony Sanchez then singled through the left-side hole to drive in the fourth tally for the 6-1 margin that would go final.
That stood up thanks to a combination of spectacular defense from the Indians and the pitching of Vance Worley. Gorkys Hernandez robbed Aaron Judge with impressive catches of crushed baseballs in the second and fifth innings. Petit was robbed by third baseman Dan Gamache's backhanded spear in the third. And Gary Sanchez cracked into a broken-bat line-drive double play with the bases loaded to end the visiting sixth.
Worley (1-0) allowed one unearned run over eight innings for the win. He scattered six hits, walked one and whiffed three. Wooten walked a career-high five men over 4.1 innings. He allowed four runs, six hits and struck out two.
The best-of-five series continues with Game 3 at 6:35 p.m. on Friday night at PNC Field. SWB's 2015 wins leader, veteran right-hander Kyle Davies (11-8, 3.30), will face the top-ranked prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates, fellow righty Tyler Glasnow (2-1, 2.20). The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive an American flag giveaway. Military members and first responders will receive free access to the game by presenting ID at the PNC Field box office. For tickets or more information, please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.
OFF THE RAILS:
Through two games on the series, SWB has gone 3-for-12 with men in scoring position while Indy has gone 9-for-16. SWB starters have allowed 10 runs (all earned) on 11 hits and seven walks over 5.1 innings. The two Indians starters have surrendered two runs (none earned) on 13 hits and three walks over 15 innings.
The Indians have scored 10 runs on the series with just one total extra-base hit. Nineteen of their 20 knocks have been singles.
Vance Worley has tossed eight innings in three straight starts including the end of the regular season. In that time he has allowed five total runs. He has walked one man or less in 12 of his 13 career outings with Indy.
Ben Gamel and Ali Castillo each went 2-for-4. Gamel doubled for the RailRiders' only extra-base hit.
Leadoff man Slade Heathcott went 1-for-3 with a walk.
Baseball America released their end-of-season All-Star Teams for each level of the minors. RHP Luis Severino (Triple-A), OF Aaron Judge (Double-A), and RHP Domingo Acevedo (Short Season) all made the teams at their levels. Acevedo was named the Pitcher of the Year in Short Season ball as well, so congrats to him.
Triple-A Scranton (4-2 loss to Indianapolis) their season is over, they were swept in the best-of-five series
CF Slade Heathcott: 2-5, 1 R, 2 K, 1 SB — he created their first run by stealing third base, then scoring when the catcher threw the ball away … 5-for-13 (.385) in the three games
2B Ali Castillo: 1-5, 1 K
LF Ben Gamel: 4-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB — went 0-for-4 in the first game and 5-for-8 (.625) in the next two games
RF Aaron Judge: 2-5 — went 4-for-11 (.364) in the three games … since the season is over, those numbers in the Aaron Judge Watch are final
3B Cole Figueroa: 2-3, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB — drove in the second run with a two-out single in the fifth
SS Gregorio Petit: 0-4, 2 K — grounded out to short with the bases loaded to end the season
C Juan Graterol: 1-3, 1 HBP
RHP Kyle Davies: 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 8/5 GB/FB — 54 of 95 pitches were strikes (57%) for Cy Davies … what a performance by the veteran innings guy
RHP Johnny Barbato: 0.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP — 16 of 31 pitches were strikes (52%) … and there goes the season, brutal outing
RHP Mark Montgomery: 0.2 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 1/0 GB/FB — eight pitches, six strikes … he stranded both inherited runners, but by then it was too late
Short Season Staten Island swept Tri-City in the first round of the postseason. They’ll play the winner of the West Virginia vs. Williamsport series in the NY-Penn League Championship series (best-of-five). That series is tied at one game apiece. They’ll play the decisive Game Three tomorrow. So I guess the Championship Series will begin either Sunday or Monday.
The season is over for Double-A Trenton, High-A Tampa, Low-A Charleston, and both Rookie GCL Yanksaffiliates. None of them qualified for the postseason. Rookie Pulaski qualified for the playoffs but was eliminated in the first round.
Moosic, Pa. - Right-hander Kyle Davies saved his best for win his team needed it most, but it wasn't enough as the Indianapolis Indians escaped PNC Field with a 4-2 win over the SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) Friday night. The win completes a three-game sweep of the best-of-five semifinal round for Indianapolis.
Davies limited the Indians to two hits across eight shutout innings. He walked one and struck out five while facing one over the minimum. He never allowed a runner to second base.
While Davies was holding down the Indians, the RailRiders strung together scoring chances in six straight innings. Slade Heathcott opened the first with a single and later scored on a stolen base and throwing error by a catcher. Cole Figueroa made it 2-0 on a single in the fifth that plated Ben Gamel.
Indianapolis scored four runs against Johnny Barbato in the top of the ninth. Dan Gamache opened the frame with a walk and went to second on a single by pinch hitter Steve Lombardozzi. Alen Hanson loaded the bases with a base knock.
An errant pitch struck Gorkys Hernandez in the shoulder to force in Gamache and a Josh Bell sacrifice fly to left tied the score at two. John Bowker struck the final blow with a two-run single that chased Barbato from the game.
SWB loaded the bases in the last of the ninth against closer Blake Wood, but could not capitalize. The team finished 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 15 on base. Game finished the night 4-for-4 and reached a fifth time on a walk.
The RailRiders will open the 2016 season on Thursday, April 7, at PNC Field against the Rochester Red Wings. Ticket packages and a promotional schedule will be available at a later date. For more information please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.
Williamsport beat West Virginia last night to force a decisive game 3 in the other NYPL semi-final series. That game was supposed to be today at 12:00 but got postponed to tomorrow due to rain. That means the championship series probably won't start until Tuesday. All of this is good news as Staten Island could in theory bring back their dynamic duo of Kaprielian and Acevedo now on full rest for the championship series.
