RAILRIDERS CLAIM 2016 CHAMPIONSHIP

RailRiders Claim 2016 Governors’ Cup Championship

SWB Wins International League for Second Time in Franchise History

 

Lawrenceville, Ga. – The SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/ New York Yankees) earned their first Governors’ Cup title since 2008 by shutting out the Gwinnett Braves 3-0 to win the Championship Series 3-1 on Friday night at Coolray Field. The 2016 RailRiders held the G-Braves to just two runs over the final 35.1 innings of the series.

Dan Camarena (1-0) took home the win in the decisive game after firing 5.1 scoreless frames in his first Triple-A start. The left-hander held the G-Braves to five hits and a walk while striking out four. Giovanny Gallegos earned the save after tossing a perfect ninth. Rob Wooten (0-2) shouldered the loss despite matching a career high with eight strikeouts. He allowed two runs on five hits.

 

Mark Payton broke a scoreless tie in the fifth by driving home Jake Cave with a two-out single to right. Clint Frazier followed with a bloop single, scoring Cito Culver for a 2-0 lead.

 

Payton’s third hit of the night provided insurance for the RailRiders. With two away in the seventh, Payton drove a pitch to the wall in right field that glanced off the glove of a leaping Mel Rojas Jr. Culver raced home from first and Payton hustled to third for a triple and a 3-0 lead.

 

The RailRiders will face the champion of the Pacific Coast League in the 2016 Gildan Triple-A National Championship at Autozone Park in Memphis, Tenn. on Tuesday, September 20. First pitch is set for 8:05 p.m. eastern. Starting pitchers have not been announced.

 

The RailRiders staff will host a watch party at Revello's Café Pizza in Old Forge, Pa. on September 20 beginning at 8 p.m. There will be pizza and drink specials, raffles and prizes from the RailRiders. Season tickets for the 2017 season are now on sale. To purchase or to find out more information, call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com!

 

OFF THE RAILS:

 

Jake Cave was named series Most Valuable Player. The outfielder finished 4-for-13 (.308), three walks and a three RBI.

The RailRiders, a team that rewrote several team records throughout the season, became the first club in franchise history to lose the first game of a playoff series and come back to win the set.

SWB pitching has not allowed a run in postseason competition on the road, a span of 36 innings. The RailRiders held the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies) scoreless in both meetings at Coca-Cola Park and the Gwinnett Braves without a run at Coolray Field.