The Scranton RailRiders came out of the All-Star break and traveled south for a three game series against the Norfolk Tides. Norfolk, Baltimore’s Triple A affiliate, was the International League’s first half champion in 2023. The RailRiders lost 2 of 3 in the series, dropping to 42-45 on the season and 8-5 in the second half.
Game 1: Tides Offense Returns in Full Force, Downs RailRiders
Will Warren (4-3, 4.37 ERA) vs Drew Rom (6-5, 5.58 ERA)
Yankees pitching prospect Will Warren throws a pitch in a Spring Training game (John Brophy/Pinstriped Prospects)
Yankees #7 prospect, Will Warren, took the ball for the RailRiders in the first game back from the break. He got a warm welcome from Connor Norby, who led off the bottom half of the 1st with a home run to left-center. Warren grinded through the first inning, surrendering 3 runs on two hits. He retired six in a row through the second and third innings, finishing with 65 pitches with only 4 whiffs. Warren reached up to 94.6 MPH on his Sinker and averaged 3169 RPM on his Sweeper.
Tides’ starter Drew Rom (Baltimore’s #18 prospect) pitched a scoreless top of the first and was taken out for inning restrictions. Justin Armbruster followed and pitched 3 shutout frames, striking out 5. The Yankees broke the “goose egg” in the top of the 6th on a two out, two run blast by catcher Carlos Narvaez. An inning later, second-baseman Jesus Bastidas belted a 397 foot home run to left-center field to tie the game at three apiece.
Dropped a Narvi nuke 💣
Carlos Narvaez puts SWB on the board with a two-run shot to left! It's Narvaez's seventh home run of the season and the 145th for SWB, the most home runs in the International League.#EverythingMajor #RepBX pic.twitter.com/GmvZRLTo2l
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) July 15, 2023
Hey, hey, hey, Jesús! 👋
It's a tie game, 3-3, thanks to a 397 ft. solo shot from Jesús Bastidas on his ninth homer of the year. #EverythingMajor #RepBX pic.twitter.com/kIDjRQ27Br
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) July 15, 2023
The bullpen arms of Michael Gomez and Matt Krook did well to contain the Norfolk bats and handed over the work to Aaron McGarity. McGarity, a Richmond native, entered to loud applause and cheers from family and friends in the 6th inning. Unfortunately, he ran into trouble early in the seventh, finishing with 4 ER on 3 H and 1 BB and being credited with the loss. Anthony Misiewicz came in to extinguish the fire, though did not find much success. He only induced one out as the Tides rally continued. Norfolk put a seven spot on the board in that inning and never looked back.
Mound Magician: Matt Krook | 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR
Heavy Hitter: Carlos Narvaez | 1-3, 2 K, 1 BB, 2 RBI, HR
FINAL: Tides 11 – RailRiders 3
Game 2: RailRiders Flip the Script, Trounce Tides
Clayton Beeter (0-1, 5.73 ERA) vs Garrett Stallings (6-5, 5.58 ERA)
Clayton Beeter. Photo provided by Somerset Patriots
Clayton Beeter took the ball in game 2 of this series and looked very sharp in his first outing since his Futures Game appearance last Sunday. Beeter paced the RailRiders on the bump, striking out six and allowing three baserunners over 4.1 innings. He notched 16 whiffs against the Tides lineup, the most since his call up to Scranton.
Clayton Beeter brought it in his first Triple-A start since the All-Star Futures Game. 💪
4.1 IP // 2 H // 0 R // 1 BB // 6 K // 4.11 ERA #EverythingMajor #RepBX pic.twitter.com/IxvrqTGzEK
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) July 16, 2023
Yankees INF prospect Andres Chaparro at bat in a Spring Training game (John Brophy/Pinstriped Prospects)
The story of the game was the RailRiders offense coming alive. The lineup scratched across 10 runs on 12 hits, lead by Andres Chaparro’s three-hit night. The RailRiders got on the board early, as Ben Rortvedt knocked in Oswald Peraza in the top of the first inning. The RailRiders put up a 5 spot in the top of the second, as Estevan Florial and Everson Pereira both doubled in runs. Andres Chaparro followed up by belting his 17th home run of the season, knocking in Pereira. Every player in the RailRiders lineup recorded a hit in the winning effort.
Adios, Andres! 💣
Andrés Chaparro goes deep with a two-run shot almost 400 ft. and 102.4 mph off the bat for his 17th homer of the season! #EverythingMajor #RepBX pic.twitter.com/ALqIWUCapp
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) July 15, 2023
Mound Magician: Clayton Beeter | 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR
Heavy Hitter: Andres Chaparro | 2-4, 1 K, 1 RBI
FINAL: RailRiders 10 – Tides 2
(Note: Prior to Game 3 of the series, the New York Yankees called up SS Oswald Peraza)
Game 3: RailRiders Lose Rubber Match
Mitch Spence (7-4, 4.45 ERA) vs Bruce Zimmerman (3-3, 3.50 ERA)
Mitch Spence. Photo by Matt Kardos
The RailRiders fell 4-3 in the rubber match of the three game set against the Norfolk Tides. This game was delayed about an hour due to inclement weather, with first pitch at 5:03PM. In the bottom of the first inning, Connor Norby hit a home run on Mitch Spence’s second pitch of the game. Three batters later, designated hitter Kyle Stowers hit an opposite field home run to give the home team a quick 2-0 lead. Spence gave the RailRiders 5.2 innings, surrendering 7 hits and 4 runs on 3 long balls.
Bruce Zimmerman came out dealing, retiring the first ten RailRider hitters in order, with five strikeouts. He ran into trouble in the top of the 4th inning when Everson Pereira lined a double to center field, with an exit velocity of 107.2 MPH. Two batters later, Andres Chaparro traded places with Pereira as he sent a double down the left field line. Then, Jake Lamb took the following pitch into center field for an RBI single to knot the game at 2-2.
RBI double for Andrés Chaparro puts SWB on the board 👏#EverythingMajor #RepBX pic.twitter.com/bQA26ZkjnS
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) July 16, 2023
We like your style, Jake Lamb. #EverythingMajor #RepBX pic.twitter.com/y99zvVmpGn
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) July 16, 2023
Spence found trouble again in the 5th inning. Daz Cameron turned on a 3-2 cutter and sent it over the wall in left to give the Tides a two run advantage. Manager Shelley Duncan then turned to the bullpen for the remainder of the game. The bullpen arms were stout, allowing only one hit for the remaining 2.1 innings.
The RailRiders would tack on a run in the 7th, as Estevan Florial drove in Michael Hermosillo to cut the deficit to one. Unfortunately, that was all the RailRiders could muster as the Tides bullpen hung on to close the game, winning 4-3.
Mound Magician: Michael Feliz | 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR
Heavy Hitter: Andres Chaparro | 2-4, 1 K, 1 RBI
FINAL: Tides 4 – RailRiders 3
The RailRiders will return home this week for a series against the Worcester Red Sox. Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday, July 18 at 6:35PM.
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