Tag Archives: Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

RailRiders win Governors’ Cup, first Triple-A national title

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railriders championship pic.jpg

By Steve Svetovich

The Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders captured the Governors’ Cup and its first ever Triple-A national title in convincing fashion last month.

The RailRiders, behind strong performances by four pitchers and a three-run first inning homer by veteran first baseman Chris Parmelee, beat the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Pacific Coast League Triple-A farm club of the San Diego Padres, 3-1, Tuesday, September 20, at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee to earn the Gilden Triple-A National Title.

It was the RailRiders first ever Triple-A National Crown.

Mark Payton and Clint Frazier both singled in the first inning before Parmelee delivered with his three-run shot off Walter Lockett to give the RailRiders a 3-0 first inning lead. Parmelee hit two homers in one game during a brief call up with the New York Yankees this season before an injury curtailed his time with the parent club.

Jordan Montgomery pitched five innings, giving up one run, to earn the win for the RailRiders.

Montgomery was lifted by manager Al Pedrique in the sixth inning after giving up three straight singles resulting in a run for El Paso.

However, Johnny Barbato came in for Montgomery and got the first three of 12 consecutive outs by Scranton Wilkes-Barre relievers.

Crafty veteran lefty Phil Coke, a member of the 2009 world champion New York Yankees, pitched a perfect seventh and eighth inning for the RailRiders. Coke has since been traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Giovanny Gallegos pitched a perfect ninth to gain the save and clinch the Triple-A National Title for the RailRiders.

The RailRiders won the Governors’ Cup by taking three of four games in a best of five series against the Gwinnett Braves.

The clincher came Friday, September 17, at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia, a 3-0 win for the franchise’s second Governors’ Cup championship.

It was the team’s second straight 3-0 win, fourth shutout in seven post-season games and 28th overall this season.

Jake Cave, the MVP of the series, hit a single, stole a key base and Cito Culver drew a two-out walk that led to RBI singles by Mark Payton and Clint Frazier to give the RailRiders a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth.

Culver walked with two outs in the top of the seventh. Payton followed up with an RBI triple to give Scranton Wilkes-Barre a 3-0 lead.

Don Camarena, in his first Triple-A start, earned the win with five and one-third shutout innings. He struck out four, gave up five hits and one walk while inducing three double plays in the first four innings.

Three RailRider relievers then took over retiring the final 11 batters in succession.

Johnny Barbato got out of a sixth inning jam when Gwinnett had runners on second and third with one out. A strikeout and groundout kept Gwinnett from scoring.

Tyler Webb pitched a perfect seventh and eighth striking out two. Gallegos pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two, to earn the save and clinch the Governors’ Cup for the RailRiders.

Payton had three hits and two RBIs in the win. Frazier had two hits and an RBI.

Scranton Wilkes-Barre won its first Governors’ Cup in 2008.

The RailRiders swept the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs in three games to advance to the Governors’ Cup series. Coke pitched a fabulous game in the 7-0 game two win. He hurled a season-high seven shutout innings, striking out seven and retiring the last 13 batters he faced. He gave up no walks.

Crestwood graduate Matt Wotherspoon pitched a perfect eighth before Barbato finished off the win with a scoreless ninth for the RailRiders.

A total of 63 players, the most notable being catcher Gary Sanchez, suited up for the RailRiders this season. Sanchez, who hit 10 homers for Scranton Wilkes-Barre, became the quickest MLB player in the history of baseball to hit 19 homers since being called up to the parent Yankees in early August. He is a strong American League Rookie of the Year candidate.

Only three players – Parmelee, Donovan Solano and Peter Kozma – were in the RailRiders’ starting lineup on both opening day and for the Governors’ Cup title clincher. Solano has since been called up to the parent club after an injury to Yankees starting second baseman Starling Castro.

Other key players such as Aaron Judge and Chad Green, both since injured and out for the season, Rob Refsnyder, Luis Severino, Luis Cessa and Tyler Austin were called up to the parent club and not available for the playoffs.

Another key player throughout the season, center fielder Ben Gamel, the International League MVP, was traded to the Seattle Mariners August 31.

Former New York Yankees star Nick Swisher, a fan favorite and clubhouse leader, was on the RailRiders the first half of the season before leaving the team to be with his family after his wife had a baby.

Even the Yankees retiring first baseman Mark Teixeira, one of only four switch hitters in baseball history with over 400 homers, played a couple games with the RailRiders this season during a rehab stint.

It will be a season to remember for this resilient group of players. And all 63 of them and the entire coaching staff had a hand in it.

Congratulations to the 2016 national champion Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

 

Little Sisters of the Poor Night at PNC Field

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The Little Sisters of the Poor at Holy Family Residence, Scranton, invite the community to join them for a fun-filled, family-friendly evening as they celebrate their fourth annual “Little Sisters of the Poor Night” on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at PNC Field, 235 Montage Mountain Rd., Moosic.

Prior to the 7:05 p.m. game where the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will take on their division rivals, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, the Little Sisters will be available at the plaza entrance of the stadium to talk with visitors and also provide a pre-game, on-field interview about Holy Family Residence and their mission of serving the elderly poor throughout the world. At 6:45 p.m., one of the Little Sisters will even throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game.

Tickets are $13 each for seats in the stadium’s field reserved section 28. Little Sisters of the Poor baseball t-shirts are $10 each and available in youth sizes as well as adult sizes small through 3XL.

If you cannot join in the fun, but you would like to send a resident in your place, please be sure to inquire about our Sponsor a Resident program.

For more information, please call (570) 343-4065 or email scdevelopment@littlesistersofthepoor.org by August 2. Orders can also be placed online at www.littlesistersofthepoorscranton.org.

 

Catching prospect Gary Sanchez working hard for future

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By Steve Svetovich

Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders catcher Gary Sanchez is a part of the New York Yankees future. That’s a given.

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Photo Credit: Times Leader

And with two hit-less at bats in 2015 and four hitless at bats with the parent club this season, all Sanchez can continue to do is work hard as he awaits another opportunity.

With current New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann signed for three more years, he realizes his opportunity to start for the Yankees could take a few years, but he does envision becoming a part of the parent club in time.

Patience is a virtue, and Sanchez has patience.

During a personal interview through an interpreter with The Dunmorean in the RailRiders clubhouse following a 1-0 win over Toledo, he showed his positive attitude.

“I want to continue to work hard, stay positive and do my job,” he said.

“When my opportunity comes with the big league club in New York, I will take it.

“In the meantime, I really don’t think about it. I just continue to work hard to be a better catcher and hitter. I try to focus on working with the pitchers.”

Sanchez, who does not speak English, had just caught Chad Green for most of the 1-0 win, a contest in which Yankees star first baseman Mark Teixeira played as a DH in a rehab assignment.

“Green was able to command his pitches. He had great control and was able to locate his pitches where he wanted to. Our relief pitching did the same. The location of pitches was great tonight.”

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Photo Credit: Scranton Times Tribune

The rising star, born in Santo Domingo of the Dominican Republic, said it was a real treat to play with Teixeira who has 397 career big league home runs.

“Playing with Tex was really good,” he said. “We were able to see how he takes care of himself and goes about his routine. It was great to see his work ethic. He was a good influence on us. The players were watching to see how he does things. It was great to have him with us. He is a real good guy.”

Sanchez, 23, said he will continue to focus on the present. “The future will take care of itself if I work hard.”

Green commented in a post game interview how great he felt on the mound and how nice it was to have Sanchez as his receiver throughout the game. “It was good having Sanchez there.”

Sanchez batted .295 with six homers and 25 RBIs in 35 games with the RailRiders last season.

He started the 2015 baseball season with AA Trenton where he batted .262 with 12 homers, 35 RBIs and 50 runs scored in 56 games.

Sanchez, who bats and throws right, was signed by the Yankees as an international free agent June 20, 2009. He was signed for $2.5 million.

Prior to the 2010 season, Baseball America ranked him as the Yankees seventh best prospect.

He began his professional baseball career playing in the Gulf Coast League.

On August 18, 2010, he was promoted to the Staten Island Yankees of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League. He hit an impressive .329 with eight homers and 43 RBIs in 47 games.

Prior to 2011, he was ranked as the second best Yankees prospect and 30th overall by Baseball America.

He played for the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2011. He played in 82 games before a finger injury ended his season. Still, he hit .256 with 17 homers and 52 RBIs.

He began the 2012 season with Charleston before being promoted to the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League.

He began the 2013 season in Tampa where he hit .254 with 13 homers and 61 RBIs. Then came the promotion to the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League Aug. 3, 2013.

He began the 2015 season with Trenton, played in the All Star Futures Game and then was promoted to the RailRiders where he homered in his first at bat.

Following the RailRiders 2015 season, he was promoted to the parent club where he made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter Oct. 3, 2015. He was included on the Yankees 25-man roster for the AL Wild Card game.

Following the 2015 season, he played in the Arizona Fall League. He was named the Fall Stars Game MVP.. He was named the second best prospect in the Arizona Fall League by Baseball America.

He challenged for a backup catching spot on the Yankees roster in the spring before losing out to veteran Austine Romine.

Still, the future is very bright for the young catching prospect.

He was batting .275 with seven homers and 30 RBIs this season at press time.

With a little more hard work, the bright lights of New York are on the horizon.