LAST TIME OUT: The RailRiders dropped their first series since early May and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs left PNC Field with a 5-2 win on Sunday afternoon. The RailRiders maintained a half-game lead over the IronPigs (55-35) for first place in the International League North heading into the All-Star Break. SWB has won 22 of its last 32 and six of its last eight.
I'M JUST A CAVE MAN: Cave singled on Sunday has has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games. He finished 3-for-3 and recorded his first career two-homer game on Saturday with a career-best five RBIs. The MVP of the Governors' Cup Championship Series in 2016, Cave has gone 28-for-86 with SWB, posting 13 extra-base hits (seven home runs), 14 RBIs and 16 runs scored while slashing .326/.376/.651/1.028. Cave entered 2017 with 19 career round-trippers. He has 12 between Double-A Trenton (5) and SWB this year.
SOL MAN: Donovan Solano went 1-for-3 with a double on Sunday. He ended May hitting .164 overall. Since the start of June, he has reached safely in 31 of his 34 games played and owns a .339/.381/.433/.814 line in that time. During the spurt he has nine doubles and 14 RBIs, lifting his average by over 100 points to .275.
B-MAC: Billy McKinney smacked his fourth Triple-A homer on Sunday. In his 10 Triple-A affairs, he has gone 15-for-38 with six extra-base hits, eight RBIs, nine runs scored and an outfield assist, slashing .395/.439/.789/1.228. McKinney has more three-hit games (3) than hitless games (2) at Triple-A.
HAPPY HOLLIDAY: Matt Holliday went 1-for-4 with an RBI as the DH in his second rehab appearance on Sunday. Over his two games with SWB, he went 3-for-8 (.375) and scored twice.
SWIPER, NO SWIPING!: SWB leads the IL in caught-stealing efficiency at 44% (31 of 71 caught). Eddy Rodriguez stands as the IL's top catcher in the category. With Rodriguez behind the plate SWB has nabbed 18 men in 35 attempts (51%). The IL's average caught-stealing efficiency minus SWB stands at 31%.
OFF THE RAILS: The RailRiders have used 16 different starting pitchers...The 2015 RailRiders tied the IL single-season record by using 24 different starters...This year's RailRiders have used 58 total players this season (28 position players, 30 pitchers)...The 2015 unit tied the IL record by using 75 different players, a mark originally set by the 2012 Norfolk Tides...SWB's offense ranks among the IL's best in: R/G (1st, 4.93), AVG (1st, .274), OBP (1st, .341), SLG (1st, .447), OPS (1st, .787), 2B (1st, 186), 3B (1st, 25), HR (3rd, 94) and SB (3rd, 77)...SWB pitching ranks among the IL's best in ERA (2nd, 3.49), WHIP (1st, 1.20) and K/9IP (2nd, 9.1)...SWB is undefeated in extra-inning games (6-0)...Only Columbus (7-0) has a better mark in the IL...At 15-6 (.714), the RailRiders boast the IL's best record in one-run games...No IL team has more wins when trailing after seven (6) or eight innings (4) than the RailRiders...SWB is the IL's only team undefeated when leading after seven frames (46-0) and one of five squads with unblemished records when in command after eight innings (42-0).
HEY NOW!: The RailRiders sent two representatives to the Triple-A All-Star Game in Tacoma, Wash. yesterday. SWB skipper Al Pedrique managed the IL squad against the PCL. Left-hander Caleb Smith joined him out west. Smith entered the break ranked among the IL's best in multiple categories: wins (T-3rd, 8), ERA (3rd, 2.07), WHIP (3rd, 1.00), BAA (1st, .201) and among starters, K/9IP (4th, 8.7). The All-Star Game, presented by CHI Franciscan Health, originated from Cheney Stadium, home of the Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners) this year and was televised live by MLB Network. 1400 The Game, NEPA'S FOX Sports Radio, your home for RailRiders baseball, carried the event. The PCL snapped a four-game slide in the annual exhibition, besting the IL, 6-4. Smith lost for the first time in 2017 (1IP, 5H, 4R, 0BB, 0K, 1HR).
CATCH IT HERE: PNC Field will host the 2017 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game on Sept. 19 at 7:07 p.m. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.The RailRiders claimed the franchise's second-ever Governors' Cup as IL champs and the team's first-ever Triple-A national title with a win over El Paso in 2016.
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