Pinstriped Performances: Waldichuk’s World

In a year full of incredible performances thus far, no rising star has shined brighter than Ken Waldichuk. Another stunning start from the left-hander plus two Oswaldo Cabrera home runs lifted Somerset to a win over Erie in the first leg of a doubleheader, though the Patriots lost the nightcap. Scranton split its twin bill as well, while the Renegades won in walk-off fashion. Each full-season affiliate is now locked on exactly 36 wins.

Brody Koerner (Photo by Matt Bufano)

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (36-17): Scranton eked out a 4-3 win over the Mets in the first game of the doubleheader, and fell 5-0 in the rain-shortened nightcap.

Game 1

• Star of the Game: Estevan Florial – 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts. Florial’s two-RBI hit provided most of the offense the RailRiders would need. He’s quietly put together an excellent past few weeks
• Hoy Jun Park: 2-for-3, 1 walk. Park’s on-base streak reached 30 games, but it ended later in the second game
• Armando Alvarez: 2-for-3, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout
• Rob Brantly: 2-for-2, 1 run scored, 1 walk
• Greg Allen: 1-for-1, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored. Allen’s RBI double scored the third, and ultimately decisive, Scranton run
• Brody Koerner: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 58 pitches (34 strikes)
• Trevor Lane: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 22 pitches (13 strikes)
• Albert Abreu: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 18 pitches (11 strikes). With Luis Garcia released, Abreu may be in line for additional save opportunities. He recorded his second of the season on Wednesday

Game 2

• Star of the Game: None. An all-around dreary night for RailRiders fans.
• Hoy Jun Park: 0-for-3, 2 strikeouts
• Ryan LaMarre: 1-for-2, 1 double, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
• Trey Amburgey: 0-for-1, 1 walk. Amburgey extended his on-base streak to 40 games
• Sócrates Brito: 2-for-2
• Brian Keller: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 36 pitches (24 strikes)
• Greg Weissert: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 44 pitches (23 strikes)
• Adam Warren: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 45 pitches (27 strikes). Warren struck out the side in the fifth
• Sal Romano: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 6 pitches (5 strikes)

Oswaldo Cabrera. Photo by Matt Kardos

Somerset Patriots (36-19): The Patriots took the opener handily by a 6-1 scoreline thanks to Waldichuk and Cabrera, then lost game two 4-3.

Game 1

• Star of the Game: Ken Waldichuk – 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 89 pitches (52 strikes). Waldichuk has struck out 31 in his first 20 Double-A innings and his competition, which is nearly two years older than he is on average, is hitting .155 against him
• Hitting Star of the Game: Oswaldo Cabrera – 2-for-4, 2 home runs (10), 5 RBI, 2 runs scored, 2 strikeouts. Cabrera hit a two-run shot in the third and a three-run blast in the fifth to supply nearly all of Somerset’s offense on the day
• Oswald Peraza: 2-for-4, 2 runs scored, 1 strikeout
• Isiah Gilliam: 1-for-2, 1 home run (3), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. Gilliam has gone deep in consecutive games
• Zach Greene: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 30 pitches (20 strikes)

Game 2

• Star of the Game: Diego Castillo – 1-for-3, 1 home run (11), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout. Castillo has easily been Somerset’s best hitter, sporting a .984 OPS
• Pitching Star of the Game: Janson Junk – 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 80 pitches (55 strikes). Junk, recently named Northeast League Pitcher of the Week, lowered his season ERA to 1.08
• Oswald Peraza: 2-for-3, 1 double. A solid 4-for-7 day for the star shortstop
• Dermis Garcia: 1-for-3, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts. Garcia’s RBI double gave Somerset a lead they’d eventually surrender
• Addison Russ: 1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 24 pitches (14 strikes). Russ served up the backbreaking three-run homer that put the Seawolves in front
• Kevin Gadea: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 12 pitches (7 strikes)

Yankees pitching prospect Barrett Loseke on the mound for the Staten Island Yankees. (Robert M. Pimpsner/Pinstriped Prospects)

Hudson Valley Renegades (36-19): A pitchers’ duel at Dutchess saw Brooklyn and HV into extra innings tied at 2 before a sacrifice fly won the game for the ‘Gades.

• Star of the Game: Barrett Loseke – 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 53 pitches (36 strikes). Loseke relieved Reid Anderson, who was good in his own right, but the 24-year-old right-hander was the story tonight. His four dominant innings out of the pen preserved the tie until HV had a chance to walk things off in extras
• Josh Smith: 1-for-3, 1 home run (3), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk. Smith has mostly been getting it done without the long ball. His third-inning solo shot was his first since June 18
• Brandon Lockridge: 2-for-4, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout
• Elijah Dunham: 3-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI
• Saul Torres: 0-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout. Torres hit the walk-off sac fly to score Isaiah Pasteur and win the ballgame in the 10th inning
• Reid Anderson: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 70 pitches (39 strikes). Anderson carries a 3.86 ERA through four High-A starts

Tampa Tarpons (36-16): Tropical Storm Elsa wiped out another Tarpons game. The matchup with Dunedin will be made up on Saturday.