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RailRiders Playlist: Wilkin Castillo looking to get pumped up

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Our view: Life in a small town can be good

<p>MOOSIC &#8212; With both Caleb Smith and Luis Cessa up with the New York Yankees, Brady Lail made his second straight start on Sunday.</p><p>Lail, who has been flip-flopping between roles as a starter and a reliever with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as of late, cruised through most of the game except one inning &#8212; the third. And it was that third inning that sunk the RailRiders in a 5-3 loss to Charlotte.</p><p>After retiring the first six Knights he faced in order, the left-hander struggled through the third inning and saw five runs cross the plate. It proved to be too much for the RailRiders (63-37) to overcome against the last-place Knights to split the four-game series.</p><p>&#8220;That&#8217;s been my year. I&#8217;ve been struggling (to get) out of the one inning,&#8221; Lail said. &#8220;I&#8217;m OK giving up the one home run. Things that I was irritated on was, I felt like I was beating them to the spots, giving up weak-contact base hits and it&#8217;s tough. And that stuff, maybe my execution wasn&#8217;t as good as I thought. I thought I threw the ball well.</p><p>&#8220;Instead of giving up five, I need to give up one or two. It&#8217;s hard to come from a four-run deficit for the team.&#8221;</p><p>Lail got into trouble from the start in the third inning.</p><p>Knights right fielder Rymer Liriano hit a lead-off home run into the concourse in left field to begin a string of six straight baserunners. Jake Peter&#8217;s RBI single to center gave the Knights a 2-1 lead, Cody Asche&#8217;s two-run single under the glove of RailRiders first baseman Mike Ford made it 4-1 and a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of Rob Brantly finished the scoring, making it 5-1.</p><p>Lail escaped the third without surrendering any more damage after the Brantly sac fly, and was able to bounce back in the fourth and fifth, retiring six of the seven batters he faced in those frames, before being pulled in the sixth after getting the first two outs.</p><p>&#8220;Yeah, he really threw the ball well. It was that one inning,&#8221; RailRiders manager Al Pedrique said. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t have any luck, but overall, I thought he located his fastball better. He threw some good breaking balls. After they scored a few runs, he battled. He did his best to keep us in the game.&#8221;</p><p>The 23-year-old continues to have a Jekyll and Hyde season.</p><p>Sunday was the second straight game Lail has given up at least five runs. However, his three previous outings prior to his June 18 start, when he gave up six runs and took the loss, Lail had given up one run or less in each outing. But Lail was coming out of the bullpen then. Now he&#8217;s back to being a starter.</p><p>Lail has said that he&#8217;s more aggressive as a reliever, knowing that he&#8217;s likely just facing a lineup once or twice, but as a starter he&#8217;s still trying to figure out what suits him best.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s hard to kind of keep that (aggressive) mentality throughout a game, and these last two outings I&#8217;ve been really good in the first two or three innings,&#8221; Lail said. &#8220;I think I have that mentality, but it&#8217;s just trying to work around the lineup again. So maybe something mindset-wise I need to get going. Mechanically, I feel really good, but my mindset probably needs to change or be able to carry on through five, six, seven innings.&#8221;</p><p>Charlotte (42-58) avoided a sweep this weekend in part thanks to big innings both Saturday and Sunday. The Knights scored six runs in the top of the ninth to win Saturday and then the five-run third was the difference on Sunday.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s definitely not ideal, but the team did a good job of putting up good at-bats and putting guys on base for us to try and make something happen,&#8221; RailRiders shortstop Jonathan Diaz said.</p><p><strong>Refsnyder traded to Toronto</strong></p><p>While Ji-Man Choi will be heading back to the RailRiders, Rob Refsnyder is not.</p><p>The former RailRider was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, and was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. Coming back the other way was first baseman Ryan McBroom, who was assigned to Double-A Trenton.</p><p>Refsnyder sported a .312 batting average with two home runs and 12 RBI in 38 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season. Buffalo visits PNC Field on Aug. 1.</p><p>Choi was outrighted to the RailRiders on Sunday. Pedrique said after the game that he was waiting to hear from the Yankees what the plan will be for the first baseman moving forward.</p><p><ins>For other RailRiders stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/sports" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Charlotte 5, RailRiders 3</strong></p><p><strong>Charlotte`AB`R`H`BI</strong></p><p>Peter 2b`5`1`1`1</p><p>Delmonico 3b`3`1`0`0</p><p>Ladendorf 3b`0`0`0`0</p><p>Asche lf`4`0`2`2</p><p>Brantly c`3`0`0`0</p><p>Garcia dh`4`0`1`0</p><p>Hayes 1b`3`0`0`0</p><p>Liriano rf`4`1`3`1</p><p>May cf`4`1`3`1</p><p>Bueno ss`4`1`1`0</p><p><strong>Totals`34`5`10`5</strong></p><p><strong>RailRiders`AB`R`H`BI</strong></p><p>Williams cf`4`1`1`0</p><p>Solano 3b`5`0`0`1</p><p>Cave dh`4`0`3`0</p><p>Ford 1b`3`0`0`1</p><p>McKinney lf`4`0`1`0</p><p>Payton rf`4`1`1`0</p><p>Castillo c`4`0`1`0</p><p>Avelino ss`4`0`1`1</p><p>Diaz 2b`4`1`2`0</p><p><strong>Totals`36`3`10`3</strong></p><p><strong>Charlotte`005`000`000`&#8212;`5</strong></p><p><strong>RailRiders`010`020`000`&#8212;`3</strong></p><p>E: Delmonico (17); PO: Holder; DP: Knights 1, RailRiders 1; LOB: Knights 6, RailRiders 8; 2B: McKinney (5); HR: Liriano (9); SB: May 2 (19).</p><p><strong>Charlotte`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO</strong></p><p>Danish (W, 3-9)`7`3`2`0`2</p><p>Purke (H, 9)`1.0`0`0`0`0`1</p><p>Bummer (H, 1)`1.0`2`0`0`0`2</p><p>Brennan (S, 1)`1.0`1`0`0`0`0</p><p><strong>RailRiders`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO</strong></p><p>Lail (L, 5-4)`5.2`8`5`5`2`4</p><p>Mantiply`2.1`2`0`0`0`2</p><p>Holder`1.0`0`0`0`0`1</p><p>HBP: Delmonico (by Holder), Williams (by Purke).</p><p>Umpires: Brian Peterson, HP; Alex Tosi, 1B; Eric Gillam, 3B.</p><p>Time: 2:30; Att.: 5352.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders right fielder Mark Payton dives back to the bag ahead of the tag by Knights first baseman Danny Hayes. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417RailRiders_1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders right fielder Mark Payton dives back to the bag ahead of the tag by Knights first baseman Danny Hayes. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417RailRiders_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">RailRiders designated hitter Jake Cave singles against Charlotte. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417RailRiders_3.jpg</photo1><caption1>RailRiders designated hitter Jake Cave singles against Charlotte. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417RailRiders_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">RailRiders center fielder Mason Williams tracks down a fly ball. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417RailRiders_4.jpg</photo2><caption2>RailRiders center fielder Mason Williams tracks down a fly ball. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417RailRiders_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">RailRiders left fielder Billy McKinney watches his drive. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417RailRiders_2.jpg</photo3><caption3>RailRiders left fielder Billy McKinney watches his drive. </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417RailRiders_5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders pitching coach Tommy Phelps, center, meets with starter Brady Lail, right, on the mound during a game against the Charlotte Knights at PNC Field on Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417RailRiders_5.jpg</photo4><caption4>Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders pitching coach Tommy Phelps, center, meets with starter Brady Lail, right, on the mound during a game against the Charlotte Knights at PNC Field on Sunday. </caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By DJ Eberle</p><p>djeberle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>T.L. EXPRESS</strong></p><p><strong>Today&#8217;s Game:</strong> The RailRiders open up a seven-game road trip on Monday in Norfolk, starting a four-game series against the Tides. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.</p><p><strong>Probable Pitchers: </strong>SWB RHP Domingo German (2-1, 3.86 ERA) vs. NOR RHP Gabriel Ynoa (2-8, 7.14)</p><p><strong>Riding the Rails: </strong>INF/OF Tyler Wade recalled from SWB to New York Yankees. Yankees outright 1B Ji-Man Choi to SWB.</p><p><strong>On Radio:</strong> NEPA Sports Radio - The Game</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>HOW THEY SCORED</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>RAILRIDERS SECOND: </strong>Mark Payton singles to right. Wilkin Castillo singles to left, Payton to third. Abiatal Avelino singles up the middle, Payton scores, Castillo to second. <strong>RAILRIDERS 1-0</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>NORFOLK THIRD: </strong>Rymer Liriano homers to left center. Jacob May singles to left. Ronald Bueno reaches first base on a bunt single. Jake Peter singles to center, May scores, Bueno to second. Nicky Delmonico works a walk, Bueno to third, Peter to second. Cody Asche singles just inside first base, Bueno and Peter score, Delmonico to second. Rob Brantley hits a sacrifice fly to center, Delmonico scores. <strong>NORFOLK 5-1</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>RAILRIDERS FIFTH: </strong>Jonathan Diaz reaches first base on a bunt single to third. Mason Williams singles to right, Diaz to third. Donovan Solano reaches first on a fielding error by Charlotte 3B Nicky Delmonico, Diaz scores, Williams to second. Jake Cave singles to right, Williams to third, Solano to second. Mike Ford hits a sacrifice fly to deep center, Williams scores.<strong> NORFOLK 5-3</strong></p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach DJ Eberle at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @ByDJEberle</p></shirttailMeta></div>

SWB RailRiders’ Brady Lail roughed up in loss to Charlotte Knights