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<p>ALLENTOWN &#8212; If anything, an extra day off could end up helping the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, a team that&#8217;s on a five-game losing streak entering the postseason.</p><p>Not to mention, they were just swept by the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the team they&#8217;re facing in the first round of the Governors&#8217; Cup playoffs.</p><p>With a rainout Wednesday, the five-game series got pushed back a day, providing the RailRiders another day to recharge before they start their defense of their International League and Triple-A National Championship crowns.</p><p>The first two games of the series will be played at Lehigh Valley, on Thursday and Friday, before the series moves back to Moosic Saturday, Sunday and Monday.</p><p>&#8220;We have a bunch of guys here who are friends, so it&#8217;s not going to be that big a deal because we&#8217;ll get a chance to chill out and come back tomorrow,&#8221; RailRiders outfielder Jake Cave said of the rainout. &#8220;Especially after coming off of a few losses, yeah, I think to have a couple days off and then to go into the playoffs with a group of guys that we all know each other and get along, I think it&#8217;ll be a good way to start new.&#8221;</p><p>While the RailRiders got another off day on Wednesday, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre manager Al Pedrique made sure to emphasize the importance of the workouts in the cage and throwing programs.</p><p>He wants to make sure his players stay sharp after a stretch of poor performances and a two-day layoff.</p><p>&#8220;Everybody&#8217;s ready to go, anxious to get back on the field and get this thing going. I feel very good about our team, our chances,&#8221; Pedrique said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t like the idea of going back-to-back without doing anything. I don&#8217;t feel good about showing up tomorrow, even though we&#8217;re going to work on the field tomorrow, and get ready for the game. It&#8217;s not the same. So I want them to stay focused.</p><p>&#8220;Everybody had a great day off yesterday back home. Now we have to get ready and somehow get the mental focus back on the game.&#8221;</p><p>When the RailRiders take the field for Thursday&#8217;s 7:05 p.m. first pitch, Domingo German will be on the mound after having an extra day to rest and prepare.</p><p>This will be the &#8220;second or third opportunity&#8221; the 25-year-old right-hander has had to open the playoffs for his team, so he&#8217;s more than comfortable pitching in big-time situations.</p><p>German has faced Lehigh Valley once this year, a July 9 start in which he pitched 3.1 innings of two-run baseball. He didn&#8217;t factor into the decision.</p><p>&#8220;(I) feel extremely confident just because (I&#8217;ve) had a chance not only to throw a couple innings against them before, but being in the dugout, seeing the guys execute pitches against them,&#8221; German said through an interpreter. &#8220;Also with them, their roster turning over, (I feel) pretty confident going out there and having a successful outing.&#8221;</p><p>Mark Payton and Mike Ford were added to the roster on Wednesday. Both provide a shot into the arm of a RailRiders lineup that averaged 1.8 runs over its last four games.</p><p>Both players provide Triple-A experience, with Payton spending most of his season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre while Ford has been up and down between Trenton and the RailRiders. Ford leads the Yankees&#8217; farm system in home runs while Payton provides athleticism and a solid bat in the outfield.</p><p>Both players started in last season&#8217;s Triple-A National Championship game and provide experience in high-pressure situations.</p><p>&#8220;They were with us early. Both guys, Ford and Payton, did a good job for us,&#8221; Pedrique said. &#8220;They know how to prepare themselves. They&#8217;re always ready. &#8230; These two guys are true professionals and I&#8217;m happy to have them back on the roster.&#8221;</p><p>Ford could play a pivotal role this postseason.</p><p>He&#8217;ll likely share time at both first base with Ji-Man Choi and designated hitter with Payton, Cito Culver among others.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m very excited to be back with a lot of the guys here and contribute up here,&#8221; Ford said. &#8220;Defensively I feel good. &#8230; With the bat, the power is definitely better this year. That&#8217;s one thing that I wanted to work on. Walks were still there, on-base was still there. Feel pretty good.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Injury update</strong></p><p>RailRiders catcher Wilkin Castillo has been on the mend ever since sliding into second base Aug. 30 against Rochester. He was placed on the seven-day disabled list with a knee injury the following day.</p><p>Castillo, however, avoided major ligament damage. And while the knee is still sore, he&#8217;s working his way back.</p><p>The veteran catcher caught a side session on Wednesday.</p><p>RailRiders catcher Kyle Higashioka started his Minor League rehab assignment with Short-Season Staten Island on Wednesday. The catcher has been out since Aug. 18 with a shoulder strain.</p><p>Higashioka would provide offense from the catcher&#8217;s position, which is something Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has been searching for most of the season.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Scranton/Wilkes-Barre right-hander Domingo German will get the start for the RailRiders on Thursday. He feels more than ready to face the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_CMYK-pitch.jpg</photo0><caption0>Scranton/Wilkes-Barre right-hander Domingo German will get the start for the RailRiders on Thursday. He feels more than ready to face the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis file photo | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>SWB to start series with IronPigs Thursday</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By DJ Eberle</p><p>djeberle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>GAME 1</strong></p><p><strong>When:</strong> 7:05 p.m.</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Coca-Cola Park, Allentown</p><p><strong>Probable Pitchers: </strong>SWB RHP Domingo German (7-2, 2.83 ERA) vs. LHV RHP Drew Anderson (0-0, 1.35 ERA)</p><p><strong>Radio:</strong> The Game (1400-AM, 1440-AM, 106.7-FM)</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach DJ Eberle at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @ByDJEberle</p></shirttailMeta></div>

POSTPONED: Rainout could be blessing in disguise for SWB RailRiders