Baby Bomber Recap 8/21/15: Austin Romine plays walk-off hero in the 14th inning for the RailRiders

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders: W 3-2 vs. Rochester Red Wings (14 innings)

The focus on last night's game was supposed to be on Michael Pineda's second rehab appearance, but instead the right-hander was forgotten when the game went into the 14th inning. The four-plus hour marathon went scoreless from the ninth inning all the way up until the walk-off six innings later. The RailRiders scored on a sac fly in the third and then again in the eighth, thanks to a Gary Sanchez single, but were mostly shut down by Red Wings starter Jose Berrios as he allowed only one run on five hits in seven innings and struck out 10 RailRiders. They finally broke free in the bottom of the 14th when Tyler Dugas and Cole Figueroa notched consecutive hits and Austin Romine drove in the winning run.

Before the game took an odd turn, Michael Pineda was the center of attention as he allowed only one run on three hits while striking out three over 4.2 innings. He threw 45 of 62 pitches for strikes and induced a total of six ground balls. From there, the bullpen did a great job holding the game, since six pitchers combined to allow one run on three hits and six walks over 9.1 innings while also striking out 10. Chris Martin made his first pitching appearance since disappearing in late July, with he, Nick Goody, and Johnny Barbato, all striking out two, and James Pazos striking out three. All four of those relievers should be in the September call-up conversation in a few days.

Double-A Trenton Thunder: W 6-0 vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels

The Thunder got everything done in the first two innings, scoring two in the first inning off a Rob Segedin single and another three in the second. With two on, Francisco Arcia stole second base and when Richmond threw the ball away, he and Tyler Wade came around to score. After Tony Renda and Tyler Austin reached base, Segedin was able to knock in another run. Trenton didn't score again until the sixth inning when Cito Culver singled and stole second before he reached third on a Jake Cave double and came home on a sac fly. By the end of the night, Segedin had two hits and three RBI to lead the team. They ran wild on Squirrels catcher Jackson Williams, going 6-6 on the bases as Cave, Segedin, Arcia, Renda, Tyler Austin, and Cito each stole a base.

Having not pitched since August 14, Caleb Smith came out and gave quite the performance all the same. He permitted only four hits and a walk over six innings while also striking out a grand total of 11 hitters. Smith has pitched well this season with a 3.61 ERA, but there was likely a questionable strike zone going on all night evidenced by the fact that Squirrels third baseman Mitch Delfino was ejected by home plate umpire Junior Valentine immediately after striking out and Thunder manager Al Pedrique was thrown out after Tyler Wade struck out to end the seventh inning. Relievers Conor Mullee and Alex Smith kept Richmond quiet with four strikeouts over the last three innings.

High-A Tampa Yankees: L 4-8 vs. Daytona Tortugas

Tampa's pitching was beaten up and the offense just couldn't make up for it. Jordan Montgomery, who has been fairly solid all year, allowed three runs on five hits and five walks over five innings. Angel Rincon allowed three runs and Luis Niebla surrendered another two. Daytona's Junior Felix Arias was the difference in the game, as he went 4-5 with two home runs and four RBI. The bats weren't able to get much going throughout the game. Back-to-back doubles from Miguel Andujar and Kyle Higashioka platted a run in the second, and it wasn't until the ninth inning that they got a rally going. The Yankees scored three runs on five singles, but the rally proved to be too little too late as they were still behind by four by the time the final out was made.The offense was led by Kyle Higashioka, as he collected three hits and an RBI, and Jorge Mateo, after he got a hit and brought in two runs.

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs: W 9-3 vs. Augusta GreenJackets

The RiverDogs offense outlasted the GreenJackets as a contingent of relievers kept the enemy in check. The game was absolutely dominated by catcher Jake Hernandez, who went 3-4 with a double, brought in five RBI, and actually managed to steal home in the fourth inning. Other standouts include Austin Aune with a double and a single, DH Isaias Tejeda with a double, single, walk, and two stolen bases, and left fielder Griffin Gordon with two hits and RBI, and a walk. That proved to be what the RiverDogs needed for a victory last night.

The pitching did great work to keep the team in the lead as Matt Marsh, a reliever recently converted into a starter, allowed only one earned run on one hit and five walks, while striking out five in 3.2 innings. Jose Mesa, Philip Walby, and Sean Carley then teamed up to allow two runs on five hits, and two walks, while striking out three in 5.1 innings.

Short Season-A Staten Island Yankees: Postponed

Rookie Advanced Pulaski Yankees: W 14-5 vs. Elizabethton Twins

The Pulaski Yankees have now scored 57 runs over their last five games, dating back to Sunday. The team's offense has been unstoppable for weeks now and tonight it struck again in order to pick up a poor pitching performance that would normally cost a lesser team the game. Starting pitcher Adonis Rosa got the Yankees into a hole, having surrendered four runs by the third inning. Thankfully, that's where the home team made their move as a Carlos Vidal three-run home run and an Allen Valerio double allotted for six runs in the bottom of the inning. They kept it up for a five-run fourth inning, capped off by a bases-clearing double from recent draft pick Kane Sweeney. Over the rest of the game, Pulaski tacked on another three runs to ensure the game was out of reach.

GCL Yankees 1:

Game 1: W 3-2 vs. GCL Pirates

3B Donny Sands 2-3, RBI, BB
DH Chris Gittens 1-3, EBI, 2 K
1B Jerry Seitz 1-3 - fielding error

Dustin Cook 2.0 IP, H, 2 BB, 3 K

Game 2: W 6-0 vs. GCL Pirates

CF Terrance Robertson 1-2, K
1B Chris Gittens 1-3, K
DH Joey Falcone 1-3, 3 RBI

Luis Rosario 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 K - 5 GO/3 FO

GCL Yankees 2:

Game 1: W 2-1 vs. GCL Tigers

DH Yancarlos Baez 1-4, K, SB
3B Renzo Martini 1-2, RB, BB
CF Andy Diaz 1-3

Darias Vargas 3.0 IP, 2 H, ER, 5 K
Omar Luis 2.2 IP, BB, 4 K

Game 2: L 3-8 vs. GCL Tigers

1B Renzo Martini 2-3
RF Isiah Gilliam 1-2, RBI, BB
DH Griffin Garabito 2-3, 2 RBI

Dallas Martinez 4.0 IP, H, ER, BB, 2 K - 6 GO/3 FO
Cameron Pongs 2.0 IP, 6 H, 7 R/4 ER, BB, 2 K