Estevan Florial sparked a 10-run rally for the RailRiders on Tuesday night before suiting up for the Yankees on Wednesday.
Adam Hunger | AP file photo
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Less than 24 hours after being part of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre baseball history, three RailRiders players were suiting up in the Bronx.
Oswaldo Cabrera and Estevan Florial both went from the RailRiders’ series in Minnesota, where they helped produce the largest comeback in franchise history on Tuesday night, to New York to play for the Yankees, looking to help the AL East leaders snap out of their slump on Wednesday.
Cabrera and Florial were joined by reliever Ron Marinaccio among the Yankees’ call-ups. Cabrera and Florial both contributed to the RailRiders’ 10-9 victory over St. Paul in which they trailed 9-0 before they rallied. Marinaccio, who has bounced between the majors and Triple-A this season, didn’t pitch Tuesday but all three players got into Wednesday’s game between the Yankees and Tampa Bay.
On Tuesday, it was Florial who got the comeback starter with an RBI single. He went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs. Cabrera had one hit on the night.
The RailRiders, who at one point early in the season were in the basement of the IL East, have climbed back into contention with a red-hot July and were 3.5 games back of the division lead heading into Wednesday’s game in St. Paul.
New York, meanwhile, has seen its massive lead in the AL East shrink over the past month but still sit at nine games ahead of the Rays despite losing 11 of 13.
The Yankees started Cabrera at third base and Florial was in center field on Wednesday. The 23-year-old Cabrera hit .262 with eight homers and 29 RBIs at Triple-A, and Florial batted .286 with 14 homers and 39 RBIs in 89 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
New York sent down utilityman Miguel Andujar and outfielder Tim Locastro to the RailRiders as part of a flurry of moves that also saw All-Star closer Clay Holmes land on the injured list because of back soreness.
“Not real concerned,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We’re hoping that it’s just the 15 days.”
Following a 3-1 loss to the Rays on Tuesday, Holmes said he is experiencing some back tightness.
“There’s some stuff going on with my back and we’re just trying to figure out the best way to go about it,” he said.
The 29-year-old Holmes said his back locked up after his last outing, when he allowed a tying RBI single to J.D. Martinez on Friday night in Boston. His back tightened up again when he tried to throw Tuesday.
“The smartest and best way to go about it is maybe to give it a break,” Holmes said. “We’ll see. We’ll play it smart and not try to push it through something that maybe could be a lot worse.”
Holmes is 1-2 with an 8.22 ERA in eight appearances since the All-Star break. He is 5-3 with 17 saves and a 2.39 ERA in 49 appearances this year.
HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
Hazleton Area 165, Wilkes-Barre Area 177
The Cougars’ Connor Matteo shared the low score for the day with the Wolfpack’s Jordan Wychock and Brady Gerrity as all three shot a 39 in Hazleton Area’s win at Wilkes-Barre Municipal.
Gabe Fatula, Jake Babinchak and Roen Gaydos all finished with a 42 for the Cougars to secure the victory.
Mike Hamel and Aiden Wiedlich rounded out the scoring for Wilkes-Barre Area.
Berwick 177, MMI Prep 202
Sean Murphy earned medalist honors for the second day in a row, shooting a 40 to help the Bulldogs beat the Preppers at Valley Country Club.
Blaze Croop (42), Ethan Dipippa (46) and Cole Phillips (49) also scored for Berwick.
Kade Lutz led MMI with a 41 and was followed by Lex Lispi, Joe Mayernik and Josh Witner.