When the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders won the third game of the series at Worcester this week, it was their 80th victory of the season. That marked the 15th time in franchise history that they won at least 80 games.
They did it four times as the Red Barons: 84 in 1992; 85 in 2000; 91 in 2002; and 84 in 2006. Five times they accomplished the feat as the Yankees: 84 in 2007; 88 in 2008; 81 in 2009; 87 in 2010; and 84 in 2012. This is the sixth time they have done it as the RailRiders: 81 in 2015;
91 in 2016; 86 in 2017; 83 in 2022; 89 last season; and now, 80 and counting this season.
Fourteen games remain in the regular season for the RailRiders to add to that total. Not only are they trying to nail down the second-half title, but the best overall record in the International League as well. Entering Saturday, two other teams — the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp — also had 80 wins. However, the RailRiders (80-53, .602) played one fewer game than Lehigh Valley (80-54, .597) and three fewer than Jacksonville (80-56, .588), so they lead by percentage points.
In all of minor league baseball, the RailRiders are tied for fifth in wins. West Michigan of the Midwest League has 90, Greensboro of the South Atlantic League has 87, Binghamton of the Eastern League has 85 and Springfield of the Texas League has 83. In addition to the three International League teams, Eugene of the Northwest League and San Jose of the California League also have 80 wins.
A few highlights from the beginning of the Pawtucket series:
In the second game of the series, veteran pitcher Kenta Maeda flirted with throwing the sixth no-hitter in franchise history and second nine-inning no-hitter. The 37-year-0ld did not allow a hit for 7.2 innings and struck out nine. He retired 19 straight batters after a second-inning walk before Worcester’s Nathan Hickey spoiled the bid with a home run.
Jayvien Sandridge relieved Maeda and got the last four outs to complete the one-hitter.
Coincidentally, Maeda’s performance came on the 19th anniversary of the franchise’s lone nine-inning no-hitter. Jeremy Cummings of the Red Barons did it Sept. 3, 2006, at Rochester. Four pitchers have thrown seven-inning no-hitters: Ben Rivera of the Red Barons on July 25, 1992, against Pawtucket; Tyler Green of the Red Barons in July 4, 1993, against Ottawa; Robert Ellis of the Red Barons — father of current RailRider Duke Ellis — on June 6, 2004, against Louisville; and Sean Boyle of the RailRiders on Aug. 23, 2021, at Worcester.
Allan Winans started the third game of the series. Although he didn’t factor into the decision, the RailRiders won, 6-2. They are 19-0 this season in games in which Winans has appeared. At 11-0, the right-hander leads the International League in wins. He has a 1.33 ERA, but has not pitched enough innings to qualify as the league leader in that category.
Even though they lost the fourth game of the series, 7-4, Spencer Jones hit his 17th home run at Triple-A in the contest. It was only his fourth home run since his three-homer game July 24 at Rochester.
Still, combined with the 16 he hit at Double-A Somerset, Jones leads all of minor league baseball with 33. That is one more than Seattle Mariners prospect Lazaro Montes and Ryan Ward in the Los Angeles Dodgers system.
