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‘Hunger Heroes’ program feeds 75,000 hungry people in NEPA

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Wilkes-Barre’s budget balance decreases as snow-cleanup expenses paid

<p>BUFFALO, N.Y. &#8212; Abiatal Avelino hit a run-scoring single in the ninth inning, leading the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders to a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Bisons on Friday.</p><p>Nick Rumbelow got Raffy Lopez to ground out with a runner on second to end the game for his first save of the season.</p><p>The single by Avelino, part of a two-run inning, gave the RailRiders a 2-1 lead before Jake Cave scored on a passed ball later in the inning.</p><p>In the top of the first, Scranton/WB took the lead on a double by Billy McKinney that scored Mason Williams. Buffalo answered in the bottom of the inning when Jason Leblebijian hit an RBI double, driving in Roemon Fields.</p><p>Giovanny Gallegos (1-1) got the win with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief while J.P. Howell (0-1) took the loss in the International League game.</p><p>With the win, Scranton/WB improved to 10-5 against Buffalo this season.</p><p><strong>Quintana happy to join Cubs&#8217; playoff push</strong></p><p>BALTIMORE &#8212; Jose Quintana didn&#8217;t have to travel far when he was traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Cubs.</p><p>However, he understands the expectations are worlds apart.</p><p>Entering Friday, the Cubs (43-45) trailed Milwaukee by 5 &#189; games in the National League Central. The Cubs believe Quintana, an All-Star last season, can help get them back on track as they try to defend their World Series title, which ended 108 years of frustration last fall.</p><p>&#8220;I said one day I want to be here,&#8221; said Quintana, who will make his Cubs debut Sunday against the Orioles at Camden Yards. &#8220;I&#8217;m so excited to be here with this team. Hopefully, I&#8217;ll have a chance this year. I just want to help this team and do my job.&#8221;</p><p>Quintana is also looking to put a difficult first half of the season behind him. He was 4-8 with a 4.49 ERA in 18 starts for the White Sox this year. In 2016, he won a career-high 13 games with a 3.20 ERA.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not surprised that they moved me, but I didn&#8217;t know where I&#8217;d go,&#8221; Quintana said. &#8220;I&#8217;m so happy I moved to the other side of the city and stayed in Chicago. I&#8217;m really happy. I think it was the best situation for me.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Red Sox DFA Sandoval</strong></p><p>BOSTON &#8212; Panda-mania is over in Boston before it ever really began.</p><p>The Red Sox designated third baseman Pablo Sandoval for assignment on Friday, cutting their losses on the $95 million free agent who was never productive or healthy enough to replicate the popularity &#8212; or World Series success &#8212; he had in San Francisco.</p><p>The Red Sox have 10 days to trade or release the 30-year-old Sandoval, who was activated from the disabled list (inner ear infection) and returned from an injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket. Unless they can find a taker for part of his salary, they will have paid $95 million for a total of 161 games, 575 at-bats, 136 hits and 14 homers &#8212; and not a single one of them in the postseason.</p><p>&#8220;It really came down to us feeling we were not a better club if he was on our club at the major league level,&#8221; Boston president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.</p><p>Dombrowski said conversations have been going on for the past few weeks with Red Sox ownership about Sandoval. He said a possibility of a minor league assignment was discussed with Sandoval and his agent, but that Sandoval declined that option in a conversation on Thursday.</p><p><strong>Nationals put Ross on DL</strong></p><p>CINCINNATI &#8212; The Washington Nationals put right-hander Joe Ross on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained elbow on Friday and revamped their bullpen for a series against the Reds.</p><p>Ross went 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA in his last four starts before the injury. He&#8217;s 5-3 overall with a 5.01 ERA in 13 starts.</p><p>The Nationals also called up relievers Austin Adams and Trevor Gott from Triple-A Syracuse. Left-hander Sammy Solis was optioned to Syracuse.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Abiatal-Avelino-CMYK.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Avelino </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Abiatal-Avelino-CMYK.jpg</photo0><caption0>Avelino </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Associated Press</p></bylineMeta></div>

Abiatal Avelino’s single leads SWB RailRiders past Buffalo Bisons