Pinstriped Performances: Holiday Sweep

Before this week’s series against the Bisons, the RailRiders were 11.5 games behind their northern foes in the standings. It only took them six games to halve that deficit. Somerset and Hudson Valley also ended their weeks on a high note.

Greg Weissert pitching for the Somerset Patriots on May 7, 2021 (Chris Jones)

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (36-42): The RailRiders finished off their convincing sweep of Buffalo with a 5-1 win. It was their first sweep of the season.

• Star of the Game: Jhony Brito – 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 79 pitches (60 strikes). Brito’s efficient outing was the fourth time in the last five trips to the mound in which he’s pitched through the sixth inning
• Estevan Florial: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts
• Tim Locastro: 1-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
• Armando Alvarez: 1-for-2, 1 double, 1 run scored. Alvarez has a seven-game hitting streak
• Jimmy Cordero: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 26 pitches (16 strikes)
• Braden Bristo: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 26 pitches (17 strikes)
• Greg Weissert: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 17 pitches (10 strikes)

Michael Beltre. Photo by Matt Kardos

Somerset Patriots (46-29): Somerset rode four home runs to an 8-3 win over Reading.

• Star of the Game: Michael Beltre – 2-for-4, 1 home run (5), 4 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout, 1 stolen base. Beltre tied a season high for RBI, set back on May 3
• Anthony Volpe: 2-for-4, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 2 stolen bases
• Elijah Dunham: 1-for-4, 1 home run (10), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 1 stolen base. Dunham has reached double digits in both home runs and stolen bases
• Brandon Lockridge: 3-for-5, 1 home run (6), 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts. Lockridge has a three-game hitting streak to start off the month
• Chad Bell: 2-for-5, 1 home run (11), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout. Bell opened the scoring with his solo shot in the second inning
• Domingo German: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 49 pitches (39 strikes)
• Mitch Spence: 3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 51 pitches (35 strikes). Spence got the win to move to 3-4
• Carson Coleman: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 39 pitches (21 strikes)
• Carlos Espinal: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2 pitches (2 strikes)

Yankees pitching prospect T.J. Sikkema pitching for the Staten Island Yankees (Robert M. Pimpsner/Pinstriped Prospects)

Hudson Valley Renegades (38-37): The Renegades are back over .500 after a series-ending 6-2 win over Brooklyn.

• Star of the Game: TJ Sikkema – 4.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 66 pitches (50 strikes). This was Sikkema’s longest outing of his career and by far his best. He set a career high for strikeouts, though he did also hit three batters
• Tyler Hardman: 1-for-4, 1 home run (11), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts. Hardman leads the team with his 11 big flys
• Eric Wagaman: 2-for-3, 1 home run (9), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk. Wagaman is second to Hardman in homers
• Aldenis Sanchez: 2-for-4, 1 double, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout
• Nelvin Correa: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 11 pitches (6 strikes). Correa got lucky to record the win thanks to HV’s four-run fourth inning
• Josue Panacual: 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 74 pitches (44 strikes). Panacual was assessed a save for his long relief work

Ben Cowles rounding the bases after a home run (John Brophy/Pinstriped Prospects)

Tampa Tarpons (33-42): Tampa dropped their series finale 6-2 in Bradenton.

• Star of the Game: Marcos Cabrera – 1-for-3, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout. Cabrera’s run-scoring double was one of just two extra-base hits for Tampa
• Jasson Dominguez: 1-for-4, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts, 1 stolen base
• Benjamin Cowles: 1-for-3, 1 triple, 1 RBI, 1 walk
• Zach Messinger: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 70 pitches (36 strikes). Messinger’s loss dropped him to 0-5
• Ryan Anderson: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 34 pitches (22 strikes)
• Kevin Milam: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 41 pitches (29 strikes)