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WVC grads in the minors: Mike Papi promoted to Double-A Akron

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Pennsylvania Senate race ads attack McGinty

<p>Voting for the Triple-A All-Star Game is underway for this year&#8217;s game, which will be held in the International League&#8217;s BB&amp;T Ballpark hosted by the Charlotte Knights on July 13.</p><p>Starting position players, a designated hitter, two starting pitchers and two relief pitchers will all be eligible for selection.</p><p>One of the problems with voting for the starters is that several RailRiders players on the ballot are not currently on the team&#8217;s roster since the ballot came out with teams&#8217; rosters on May 24.</p><p>Third baseman Deibinson Romero (released), catcher Gary Sanchez (injured), outfielder Slade Heathcott (released) and starting pitcher Richard Bleier (Majors) are not currently on the team, but are listed on the ballot. Left-hander Tyler Webb, who has recently been added to the team&#8217;s rotation, is listed as a relief pitcher.</p><p>There are still plenty of options for SWB fans to vote for. Players currently on the roster and who are listd on the ballot are: Chris Parmelee (first base), Donovan Solano (second base), Pete Kozma (shortstop), Nick Swisher (DH), Aaron Judge and Ben Gamel (outfielders), Chad Green and Kyle Haynes (starting pitchers), Conor Mullee, James Pazos, Layne Somsen and Webb (relievers).</p><p>The first round of voting results were released last week with Sanchez and Swisher leading their positions, while Judge is third among outfielders. Solano is fifth in voting at his position with Green (sixth) and Mullee (seventh) also listed in the top 10.</p><p>Fans can vote until 11:59 p.m. on June 24.</p><p><strong>Clashing promos</strong></p><p>On June 10 to June 11 a pair of promotions in the International League will have opposite messages for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. On June 10, Pawtucket will have the theme &#8220;Free Brady Friday&#8221; where the team will support the start with a poster giveaway, fans named Tom or Brady will be admitted free, and there will be special $12 ticklet prices.</p><p>The next night in Buffalo, the Bisons will have &#8220;Keep Brady Suspended&#8221; night highlighted by a buy-one, get-one free ticket if fans take a fully-inflated football to donate to charity to the stadium.</p><p><strong>In case you missed it</strong></p><p>After scoring three runs or less in six of seven games, the RailRiders rebounded in a big way on Friday night tying their season-high scoring 10 runs in a rout over Columbus.</p><p>The 10 runs were more than they scored in their previous four games. Along with the club breaking out of a slump, so did slugger Aaron Judge, who entered Friday night in an 0 for 24 stretch and no extra-base hits in his previous 60 at bats. After extending that stretch by one on his first plate appearance, he reached base in his next four plate appearances consisting of two walks and two doubles.</p><p><strong>Looking ahead </strong></p><p>The RailRiders will play Charlotte for the first time this season when they host the Knights for four games this week starting on Monday. The Knights have had a lusty offense the last few years, and that remains true again this season paced by outfielder Jason Coats, whose .331 batting average leads the I.L. The team leads the circuit in team batting average at .268.</p><p>The Knights also lead the league in runs scored, hits, home runs, RBI and stolen bases. But they&#8217;re also second in the league in strikeouts, which bodes well for the SWB pitching staff, which is third in the league in striking out batters.</p><p>When Charlotte leaves town so do the RailRiders as they head west to take on Columbus in a rematch of this weekend&#8217;s three-game series at PNC Field.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Dave Rosengrant</p><p>drosengrant@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Dave Rosengrant at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @tldrosengrant</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Railriders Notes: Voting underway for Triple-A All-Star Game