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Hundreds flock to check out Corvettes in Hazle Township

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Tyler Webb’s new move is to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre rotation

<p>The way it&#8217;s been this season, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre goes as Ben Gamel goes.</p><p>So it&#8217;s not too surprising that the team&#8217;s hottest stretch of the season has come with Gamel being red hot.</p><p>The reigning International League Rookie of the Year was batting just .250 after a game against Louisville on May 24. But since that day, the outfielder has been on fire. The RailRiders leadoff hitter has gone 36 for 92 (.391) over his last 22 games with an OPS of more than 1.000 in that time.</p><p>Gamel&#8217;s batting average is now up more than 50 points in less than a month and he&#8217;s skyrocketed to seventh in the league at .307.</p><p>The 24-year-old has been exceptionally hot during June batting .417 (28 for 67) with three of his four triples on the season coming in the month.</p><p>After the loss on May 24, the RailRiders have won 13 of 23, including a six-game winning streak which ended last week.</p><p><strong>Sanchez leading catchers</strong></p><p>Catcher Gary Sanchez is currently the only RailRider leading in voting for the International League for the Triple-A All-Star Game.</p><p>The only other Scranton/Wilkes-Barre player in the top four for his position is Nick Swisher, who is fourth among I.L. designated hitters. Outfielder Aaron Judge was 10th in the voting released last week, while starting pitcher Chad Green was seventh in voting and reliever Conor Mullee came in fifth. Right-hander Brady Lail is currently the leading vote-getter for write-ins.</p><p>Former SWB Yankees Chad Huffman (first base, Toledo) and designated hitter Jesus Montero (Buffalo) are leading vote-getters in their respective positions.</p><p>Others leading their positions for the I.L. are second baseman Nick Franklin (Durham), shortstop Trea Turner (Syracuse), third baseman Casey McGehee (Toledo), outfielders Byron Buxton (Rochester), Adam Frazier (Indianapolis) and Jason Coats (Charlotte), starting pitchers Tyler Glasnow (Indianapolis) and Wade LeBlanc (Buffalo), and relievers Dustin Antolin (Buffalo) and Jumbo Diaz (Louisville).</p><p><strong>In case you missed it</strong></p><p>The RailRiders struck a season-high winning streak last week winning six in a row and winning all but one game on a road trip through Ohio winning three against Columbus before claiming three of four contests against Toledo.</p><p>Perhaps the biggest news to come during those wins for the club, and the Yankees organization, is that fan favorite Swisher had an opt out date on his contract come and go without any action.</p><p>That&#8217;s big for both Swisher and the RailRiders because he&#8217;s been hot of late with four multiple-hit games in his last six. On the road trip, Swisher piled up nine hits, including three homers in six games played.</p><p><strong>Don&#8217;t miss this</strong></p><p>The day to head to PNC Field this week is Sunday for a fantastic Father&#8217;s Day celebration that dads, and no one should want to miss. The first 1,000 dads through the gate will receive a RailRiders beer stein.</p><p>On top of that, for an extra charge, father&#8217;s can enjoy a barbecue and a game of catch on the field with their children.</p><p>Speaking of children, Sundays are also all about Family FunDay with kids run the bases following the final out, plenty of attractions to keep kids busy throughout the game, and children can also eat for free.</p><p><strong>Looking ahead</strong></p><p>Coming off a series win over Toledo last week, the RailRiders host the Mud Hens for three games starting on Tuesday at PNC Field. The Mud Hens are still in last place in the I.L. West Division.</p><p>When Toledo leaves town on Thursday night, the RailRiders will join them as they conclude a six-game homestand. SWB will head to Pawtucket for three games starting on Friday night against its division rival. The teams have met seven times this season with the RailRiders winning five. When the team plays Pawtucket, it will be the first division opponent they have faced since seeing the PawSox on May 12. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will have played 39 games versus teams from other opponents by the time they see Pawtucket this weekend.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Gamel </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_BenGamelMUG.jpg</photo0><caption0>Gamel </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<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>

SWB RailRiders feeding off Ben Gamel’s hot bat