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MOOSIC — A call-up to Triple-A was exactly what Jake Cave needed.
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders outfielder was was a power threat for Double-A Trenton, with five home runs in 29 games, but that was it. He owned a .266 batting average, which was nearing a career-low pace. But then he was promoted to the RailRiders on June 16 and things changed.
In the last month-plus, Cave has been the RailRiders’s best hitter, and that included Wednesday. The 24-year-old left fielder was 2 for 5 with a home run, run scored and five RBI, powering the RailRiders (61-35) past the Norfolk Tides 6-3.
Cave’s five-RBI afternoon overshadowed the return of Crestwood grad Matt Wotherspoon, who threw 2.1 shutout frames for the Tides (40-57). The Mountain Top native was traded from the RailRiders to the Baltimore Orioles on July 2.
“I’m trying to make a move here. I’m trying to get to the big leagues, and that’s what I’ve always been trying to do,” Cave said of his recent success. “I’m trying to get to the big leagues, hopefully with the Yankees, but if it’s not with the Yankees, hopefully with somebody. So I’m just trying to take full advantage of my opportunities. I’m getting opportunities to play every day, so I’m just trying to perform like I know I can.”
Cave, who gave the RailRiders a 4-1 lead with his third-inning three-run home run and provided a pair of insurance runs with his two-run single in the fourth, has been red-hot as of late. He’s gone 24 for 64 with eight extra-base hits, five home runs, 15 runs scored and 14 RBI in his last 17 games.
Heading into Monday’s game, Cave ranked fourth in batting average, tied for first in home runs, was third in slugging percentage and tied for fifth in extra-base hits in the International League since his June 17 Triple-A season debut.
“Being patient, getting good pitches to hit. He’s been drawing the ball to all over the field,” RailRiders manager Al Pedrique said. “The key has been him putting himself in good hitting counts, not trying to do too much.”
Wotherspoon made his first appearance as a visitor on Wednesday, and kept the RailRiders off-balance throughout his relief appearance.
After watching Norfolk starter Jayson Aquino give up six runs in 3.2 innings, Wotherspoon entered in the fourth to provide some stability. The 25-year-old right-hander gave up just a hit and two walks while striking out four. Three of Wotherspoon’s four strikeouts were looking.
“Definitely fun out there against those guys. They have all been my best friends the past four years,” Wotherspoon said. “We got down a couple runs there, but that was my job to come in and stop the bleeding a little bit and Pedro (Alvarez) got us back on the board there in the ninth. Unfortunately we came up a little bit short today.”
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s offense broke out Wednesday after scoring just five runs in Tuesday’s doubleheader.
The outfield trio of Cave, Billy McKinney and Mason Williams each recorded two hits. RailRiders first baseman Cito Culver also had a pair of hits.
Refsnyder DFA’d
To clear room on both the 25-and 40-man New York Yankees rosters after Tuesday’s trade with the Chicago White Sox, to acquire third baseman Todd Frazier and relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle, RailRiders utility man Rob Refsnyder was designated for assignment on Wednesday. Lefty reliever Chasen Shreve was optioned to the RailRiders.
The Yankees also designated former RailRiders first baseman Ji-Man Choi for assignment.
“A kid that for everything he’s gone through so far, any time he came back to us his attitude was great,” Pedrique said of Refnsyder. “He played hard for us. He played in the outfield. He played first base. He helped the young guys in the clubhouse when he was here. That’s why we wish him nothing but the best. Hopefully he gets picked up by somebody they will click for him and he gets a chance.”
For other RailRiders stories, click here.
RailRiders 6, Norfolk 3
Norfolk`AB`R`H`BI
Dickerson lf`4`1`1`0
Johnson dh`4`0`2`1
Dosch 3b`3`0`0`0
Alvarez 1b`4`1`1`1
Sisco c`4`0`0`0
Gentry rf`4`1`1`0
Sardinas 2b`4`0`2`1
Janish ss`3`0`0`0
Schafer cf`2`0`0`0
Totals`32`3`7`3
RailRiders`AB`R`H`BI
Wade ss`3`1`1`1
Cave lf`5`1`2`5
Andujar 3b`5`0`1`0
Ford dh`3`0`1`0
Solano 2b`4`0`0`0
McKinney rf`4`0`2`0
Williams cf`4`2`2`0
Culver 1b`3`2`2`0
Rodriguez c`4`0`0`0
Totals`35`6`11`6
Norfolk`010`001`001`—`3
RailRiders`004`200`00X`—`6
E: Janish (5); OA: Gentry; DP: Tides 0, RailRiders 2; LOB: Tides 4, RailRiders 9; 2B: Johnson (9), Andujar (7); 3B: Gentry (2) HR: Alvarez (19), Cave (9); CS: Sardinas (2).
Norfolk`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Wheeler (L, 4-2)`3.2`8`6`5`1`3
Wotherspoon`2.1`1`0`0`2`4
Fry`2.0`2`0`0`1`3
RailRiders`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
German`3.0`3`1`1`0`3
Gallegos (W, 2-1)`2.0`1`0`0`0`3
Feyereisen`2.0`2`1`1`0`0
Heller`2.0`1`1`1`1`3
WP: Heller.
HBP: Dosch (by Feyereisen).
Umpires: Eric Gillam, HP; Brian Peterson, 1B; Alex Tosi, 3B.
Time: 2:47; Att.: 6,633.
