Yanquiel Fern\u00e1ndez\u00a0of the Scranton\/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders enjoyed quite a week in Allentown, Pa.<\/p>\n
During the team\u2019s six-game series against the rival Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the outfielder had at least one hit in each game and batted .379 (11 for 29). Four of his hits were home runs. He had 12 RBIs, five runs and one stolen base.<\/p>\n
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Those numbers earned Fern\u00e1ndez the International League Player of the Week award for the period of May 18-24. It is the second consecutive week that Minor League Baseball has honored a member of the RailRiders. Teammate Brendan Beck was chosen IL Pitcher of the Week for May 11-17.<\/p>\n
In the series opener, Fern\u00e1ndez had three hits, including two home runs, and six RBIs as the RailRiders romped to a 15-4 victory. In the third game, he had another three-hit game with a solo home run in an 8-7 win. He had an RBI single in the top of the third inning to open the scoring in the fourth game, then hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh to tie the game, 5-5. Unfortunately, the RailRiders lost in 10 innings, 6-5.<\/p>\n
Finally, in the finale, his two-out, two-run double in the top of the ninth gave the RailRiders a 5-4 win, gaining them a series split.<\/p>\n
For the season, Fern\u00e1ndez is batting .270 (47 for 174) with six doubles, one triple, 13 home runs and 37 RBIs in 43 games. He is tied for third in the league in home runs and ranks fourth in RBIs.<\/p>\n
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The 23-year-old outfielder was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees<\/a> from the Colorado Rockies<\/a> in February. He made his major league debut with the Rockies on July 2 and in 52 games batted .225 (31 for 138) with five doubles, four home runs, 13 runs and 11 RBIs. His first major-league hit came in his second game July 4th against the Chicago White Sox<\/a> \u2014 a third-inning single against Adrian Houser<\/a>. His first major-league home run came Aug. 1 against Yohan Ramirez of the Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> \u2014 a pinch-hit two-run blast in the bottom of the eighth inning that cut Colorado\u2019s deficit to 16-12. The Rockies then scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to win, 17-16.<\/p>\n Fern\u00e1ndez would not have had a chance to win the series finale against Lehigh Valley if not for Kenedy Corona<\/a>.<\/p>\n With two outs in the top of the ninth and facing an 0-1 count, Corona singled to keep hope alive for the RailRiders. George Lombard Jr. followed with a walk, setting things up for Fernandez to line a 1-0 pitch into the right-field corner for a double to score Corona and Lombard with the tying and winning runs, respectively.<\/p>\n Corona was a factor throughout the game. He singled in the top of the third inning to put two runners on. After a wild pitch advanced the runners one base, Lombard followed with a single to score them and cut Lehigh Valley\u2019s lead to 3-2.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n That still was the score in the top of the fifth when the RailRiders again had two runners on base. This time, Corona laid down a sacrifice bunt to move them up. Lombard then hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3.<\/p>\n Liover Peguero<\/a> of the IronPigs singled to left field with one out in the bottom of the sixth. But when he tried to stretch it into a double, Corona showed off his defense and threw him out at second.<\/p>\n Promoted from Double-A Somerset to the Triple-A RailRiders on May 4, the 26-year-old from Venezuela is batting just .200 (7 for 35) in 13 games. But some of those hits have come in key moments.<\/p>\n Besides the two hits against Lehigh Valley, his RBI single in the top of the ninth at the Worcester Red Sox on May 7 capped a three-run rally that tied the game, 7-7. However, the RailRiders wound up falling in 10 innings, 10-8. Against the Syracuse Mets at PNC Field on May 13, his grand slam capped a six-run fourth inning in the RailRiders\u2019 7-0 triumph.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a slider. I made good contact,\u201d Corona said. \u201cI tried to hit a fly ball for one RBI, so I was happy for a grand slam. It was beautiful. I thought it was a fly ball, then I see it was a homer so I was happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Although he has been with the RailRiders for just three weeks, Corona is enjoying his time here.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great. They have a lot of Latin (players) here,\u201d he said. \u201cI have good teammates, too. A good manager. Everybody on the staff is beautiful. I\u2019m comfortable here.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Yankees is the Yankees. It\u2019s incredible. Everybody here is just trying to get better every day. I\u2019ve learned a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Originally signed as a minor-league free agent by the New York Mets<\/a> in April 2019, he was traded to the Houston Astros<\/a> in December 2019. He spent the next several seasons climbing his way through the organization. He played 121 games last season with the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys and batted .220 (83 for 377) with 13 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 36 RBIs.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n