Consumer Watchdog: Message to mortgage company yields results for Duryea couple

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WVC grads in the minors: Ray Black regaining top form

The RailRiders and Charlotte Knights always seem to play very long games.A contest last week solidified that claim as the teams took 3 hours, 53 minutes to complete an 11-10 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre victory in nine innings at PNC Field. It marked the longest nine-inning game at the ballpark in Moosic in the Yankees era; and the longest for the franchise since at least 2004.Last Tuesday&#8217;s time of game surpassed a game between the RailRiders and Pawtucket on July 26, 2014 that took 3:51 to finish at PNC Field. Earlier that month on July 6, SWB and the Knights took 3:42 to complete a nine-inning game in Moosic. That game was won by Charlotte in a slugfest just like last week&#8217;s, 13-9.The longest nine-inning game in the Yankees era also took 3:53 when the SWB Yankees lost 8-2 at Columbus on April 28, 2007. That turned out to be just the second-ever contest played by the Yankees-affiliated SWB squad at Columbus, the longtime home of the Yankees&#8217; top minor leaguers from 1979-2006. The aforementioned game didn&#8217;t end until after midnight due to a rain delay of 1 hour, 12 minutes.In case you missed itThe longest nine-inning game of the Yankees era helped the RailRiders end a three-game losing skid that saw them fall out of first place in the International League North Division.A big force behind snapping the streak was catcher Kyle Higashioka, who has hit safely in 10 straight games going 18 for 39 (.461) during the streak. The only game with the RailRiders he has not had a hit was hit first game.Higashioka has an on base percentage of .440, a .860 slugging percentage for a 1.305 OPS in 11 Triple-A games. He also has five homers, four doubles and 13 RBI. Behind the plate, he&#8217;s caught four SWB shutouts in the 11 games.Don&#8217;t miss thisFriday night at PNC Field consists of perhaps the best promotional night on the schedule with an event you won&#8217;t want to miss.Dave &#8220;The Bullet&#8221; Human Canonball will be performing after the game against Gwinnett. Right before the fireworks show begins, he will be shot out of a cannon.Looking aheadAfter finishing the current series in Columbus, the RailRiders stay on the western side of the International League to face Toledo for the first time this season. The teams start a four-game set in Ohio on Monday.Last year, SWB went 5-6 against the Mud Hens. This year, the Mud Hens are currently in last place in the I.L. West, but have boppers in the lineup with three batters in the top seven in the league in batting average in Casey McGehee, Steven Moya and former SWB Yankee Chad Huffman, who played in Moosic in 2010.Once the RailRiders conclude their road trip, the squad returns home to host Gwinnett for a weekend series starting on Friday. The Gwinnett Braves, also known as the RailRiders of the south, took two of six games versus SWB last year as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lost the series to the G-Braves for the first time since 2011.The Braves consist of several former RailRiders on the roster consisting of Ronnier Mustelier, Reid Brignac, Manny Banuelos, Joel De La Cruz and Jose Ramirez. Another former SWB player Adonis Garcia is currently in Atlanta playing for the Braves, while reliever Danny Burawa is also in the organization.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Dave Rosengrantdrosengrant@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Dave Rosengrant at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @tldrosengrant</shirttailMeta></div>

Railriders Notes: SWB sets Yankees era mark for longest time of game