Pinstriped Performances: Waldichuk Debuts, Somerset Romps

Tampa was rained out, but all active affiliates won on Thursday. The most action took place in New Jersey, where Patriots fans saw a highly anticipated maiden voyage.

Brody Koerner (Photo by Matt Bufano)

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (26-11): Two early home runs lifted Scranton to an easy 4-2 win over the bottom-dwelling Syracuse Mets.

• Star of the Game: Socrates Brito – 2-for-3, 1 home run (5), 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk. Brito’s first-inning blast got things going for the RailRiders
• Estevan Florial: 0-for-3, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
• Kellin Deglan: 1-for-3, 1 home run (1), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts. Deglan is 4 for his last 10 with two extra-base hits
• Brody Koerner: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 68 pitches (43 strikes)
• Trevor Lane: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 26 pitches (15 strikes). The winning pitcher on Thursday, Lane hasn’t allowed a run in a single outing this season other than his implosion on May 22
• Greg Weissert: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 21 pitches (10 strikes). A successful enough Triple-A debut for the veteran reliever
• Sal Romano: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 17 pitches (11 strikes)
• Luis Garcia: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 9 pitches (8 strikes). Garcia wasted no time in securing an efficient 11th save

Michael Beltre. Photo by Matt Kardos.

Somerset Patriots (25-13): Ken Waldichuk endured some struggles for the first time this season, but his offense picked him up. Four home runs proved the difference as the Patriots trounced Richmond 9-3.

• Star of the Game: Oswaldo Cabrera – 3-for-4, 2 home runs (6), 2 RBI, 3 runs scored. Cabrera hit two solo home runs, one in the third inning and one in the seventh, to pace Somerset’s offense
• Michael Beltre: 2-for-5, 1 home run (6), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout. After a 1-for-17 stretch earlier this month, Beltre is 9 for his last 18
• Oswald Peraza: 0-for-3, 2 runs scored, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
• Diego Castillo: 3-for-4, 1 double, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored. It could be time for a new challenge for Castillo. Thursday marked his third consecutive game with three hits
• Donny Sands: 1-for-3, 1 home run (7), 4 RBI, 1 run scored. The veteran catcher is on a tear, with four home runs in his last three games. He’s raised his slugging percentage more than a hundred points in less than a week
• Ken Waldichuk: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 7 K, 93 pitches (53 strikes). Nobody said it’d be easy, right? Waldichuk showed flashes in his Somerset debut but was also bitten by five walks and two home runs. Given that he didn’t give up a single run in High-A all season, we can all afford to be patient
• Nick Green: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 36 pitches (21 strikes). Green picked up the win in relief
• Ron Marinaccio: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 26 pitches (19 strikes)

Shawn Semple. Photo by Matt Kardos

Hudson Valley Renegades (22-15): Two out of three of Hudson Valley’s trio of aces have been promoted to Somerset – but Shawn Semple, sent in the other direction, looks set to take their place. The Renegades got the better of Jersey Shore 3-2 thanks to Semple’s sparkling outing.

• Star of the Game: Shawn Semple – 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K, 90 pitches (60 strikes). Semple wasn’t having a bad year at Somerset by any stretch and can’t be thrilled about the demotion, but he showed he’s no match for High-A hitters in dominating the BlueClaws
• Josh Smith: 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout, 1 stolen base
• Anthony Seigler: 2-for-4, 1 caught stealing
• Elijah Dunham: 3-for-3, 1 walk, 1 stolen base
• Oliver Dunn: 1-for-3, 1 home run (2), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts. Dunn’s second-inning solo blast put the Renegades up by two
• Nelson L. Alvarez: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 26 pitches (19 strikes)
• Derek Craft: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 24 pitches (11 strikes). Craft, a 2018 draft selection making his High-A debut, ran into some trouble with his control but recovered to notch a save

Tampa Tarpons (27-11): Tarpons-Marauders at GMS Field was postponed due to wet field conditions and will be made up on Friday as part of a doubleheader.