CORTES SHINES IN TRIPLE-A DEBUT

 

Nestor Cortes Shines in Triple-A Debut

RailRiders Record Third Straight Shutout of Buffalo, 24th Overall

 

Buffalo, N.Y. – The SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/ New York Yankees) used a dominant Triple-A debut by Nestor Cortes to blank the Buffalo Bisons 4-0 on Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Field. The RailRiders (85-52) have won seven straight in Buffalo and 11-of-12 against the Bisons (66-72) overall.  

Cortes (1-0) fired 5.2 no-hit innings in his first start with SWB. The southpaw issued three walks and struck out four. Luis Severino and Dietrich Enns combined for the final 3.1 frames. Severino struck out five over 2.1 innings, yielding two hits.

After earning International League Most Valuable Player earlier in the day, Ben Gamel continued his strong season with a hit and two runs scored. Rob Refsnyder plated Gamel on a single to center in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.

Donovan Solano drove in a run in the fourth and sixth innings for a 3-0 lead. The IL year-end All-Star finished 2-for-4. Mason Williams also tallied two hits. His second of the evening brought around Gamel in the eighth for the final margin.

OFF THE RAILS:

SWB moved closer to claiming their second straight IL North Division title with tonight’s win. The team sits 4.0 games up in the division with six to play.

The RailRiders have blanked the Bisons in three straight meetings, a span of 31 consecutive innings that reach back to a 3-2 win in the opener of a doubleheader on July 26 at PNC Field.

SWB relievers have held opponents scoreless for 14 straight innings while striking out 33 in that span.

Catcher Kyle HIgashioka has caught 11 shutouts in 31 starts behind the plate with SWB.

After finishing 2-for-4, Solano leads the IL with 153 hits and his .312 batting average is fifth best on the circuit.  Solano owns a .394 average (41-for-104) through 28 games played in August with 13 multi-hit efforts.

SWB continues their series in Buffalo on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Left-hander Jordan Montgomery (4-1, 0.58) gets the nod against southpaw Scott Diamond (8-13, 4.12). For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.