Click here to subscribe today or Login.
DURHAM, N.C. — Al Pedrique said the key to success in the Governors’ Cup Finals would be good pitching and good defense.
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders manager was right.
However, it was the RailRiders’ shortcomings in both areas that proved to be the difference. The Durham Bulls posted a three-run first inning that Scranton/Wilkes-Barre couldn’t come back from.
Falling behind early, the RailRiders struggled against Durham southpaw Ryan Yarbrough en route to a 6-0 loss in the series opener.
“That was the difference in the game,” Pedrique said of the early defense and pitching. “We didn’t execute defensively in key plays — maybe a double-play ball, runners at first and third. We allowed a guy home and didn’t get him., so we allowed an extra run, and when you do that it’s always going to come back and hurt you. We got behind right away and after that we got flat.
“We weren’t the team I know. We’re better than that. Tomorrow’s a new day, so we just have to show up and play.”
RailRiders right-hander Ronald Herrera was able to retire Durham lead-off hitter Johnny Field in three pitches, forcing the Bulls outfielder to fly out to center, to get off to a smooth start. However, the inning got out of control shortly after the flyout.
Herrera gave up four consecutive singles, sandwiching a wild pitch, and the Bulls were up 2-0 with just one out.
A visit from RailRiders pitching coach Tommy Phelps was able to settle down the 22-year-old, as Herrera was able to get the next two batters to ground out. But Shane Peterson’s groundout for the second out of the inning came at a price.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre third baseman Miguel Andujar fielded the ball and threw to first with Bulls first baseman Jake Bauers springing home to score ahead of him.
“I thought (Herrera) made some pitches. They found the hole,” Pedrique said. “They had one with two strikes and they got a base hit by the second baseman and then the bloop single, but if we don’t make the plays defensively he’s going to have to throw extra pitches and that’s what he did. He through a lot of pitches the first two innings.”
The three-run first inning proved to be all the Bulls would need as Yarbrough kept Scranton/Wilkes-Barre off-balance all night.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s biggest threat came in the first inning, when Mason Williams and Donovan Solano got on with a pair of singles, but a Billy McKinney strikeout and Andujar hitting into a double play ended the inning.
Yarbrough pitched seven innings of shutout baseball, while only giving up three hits — all singles — and striking out four. There was a point when Yarbrough retired 10 straight RailRiders.
“That’s just the game really,” Williams said. “We still had good at-bats, I just feel like nothing fell for us.”
Now the RailRiders find themselves in familiar territory.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre dropped its first game to Lehigh Valley in the first round of the Governors’ Cup playoffs before rallying off three straight wins to take the series in four games. Even with a 6-0 defeat, Pedrique is no less confident in his team after the loss than he was going into the tilt.
RailRiders right-hander Domingo German (7-2, 2.83 ERA) is on the bump Wednesday, facing Durham right-hander Yonny Chirinos (12-5, 2.74).
“This is why we play five-games series,” Williams said. “Some nights are going to be like this, but I’m pretty sure we’re pretty positive that we’re going to bounce back tomorrow and definitely look to have a more competitive game.”
Jones off roster
RailRiders reliever Tyler Jones was removed from the team’s roster Tuesday afternoon. Southpaw Caleb Frare replaced him on the roster.
Pedrique wanted to keep the reasoning for the move in-house.
“It’s a roster move that we needed to make,” said the manager.
For other RailRiders stories, click here.
Game 1, Governors’ Cup Finals
Durham 6, RailRiders 0
RailRiders`AB`R`H`BI
M. Williams cf`4`0`2`0
Solano 2b`4`0`1`0
McKinney lf`3`0`0`0
Andujar 3b`3`0`0`0
Ford dh`3`0`0`0
Higashioka c`3`0`0`0
Cooper 1b`2`0`0`0
Cave rf`3`0`0`0
Culver ss`3`0`0`0
Totals`28`0`3`0
Durham`AB`R`H`BI
Field cf`4`0`0`0
Wong 2b`5`1`2`1
Adames ss`3`1`2`0
Bauers 1b`4`1`2`0
Leonard lf`4`0`1`1
Peterson dh`4`1`1`1
Robertson 3b`4`1`1`0
J. Williams rf`4`1`1`0
McKenry c`3`0`1`2
Totals`35`6`11`5
RailRiders`000`000`000` —`0
Durham`310`002`00X` —`6
DP: RailRiders 0, Bulls 1; LOB: RailRiders 2, Bulls 8; 2B: J. Williams (1), Robertson (1); CS: M. Williams (1).
RailRiders`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Herrera`4.2`6`4`4`0`2
Mantiply`1.0`4`2`2`0`0
Feyereisen`0.2`1`0`0`2`1
Frare`0.2`0`0`0`0`1
Pena`1.0`0`0`0`1`1
Durham`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Yarbrough`7.0`3`0`0`0`4
Broadway`1.0`0`0`0`0`2
Ames`1.0`0`0`0`0`1
Umpires: Jasen Visconti, HP; John Bacon, 1B; Dan Merzel, 2B; Jeremy Riggs, 3B.
Time: 2:34 (0:59 delay); Att.: 1,933.
