IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

Lehigh Valley Takes Back-And-Forth Slugfest

Published on June 30, 2014 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


Moosic, Pa. - A back-and-forth battle between regional rivals tilted on one signature moment. And it belonged to NEPA's own Russ Canzler. Unfortunately, he no longer plays for the local squad. His first-pitch three-run homer off Danny Burawa in the seventh inning snapped a 5-5 draw and put the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies) ahead for good in a 9-7 loss for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) Monday night.

Canzler's first home run as an IronPig, his third overall this season, was one of three Lehigh Valley (40-44) homers on the night. The Pigs entered the game with the IL's worst slugging percentage, but saw half of their 14 hits go for extra bases. SWB (40-43) starter Bruce Billings (4-5) suffered his fourth loss in as many starts. He went six-plus innings and was charged with seven runs on 12 hits including two home runs. Hector Neris (2-0) suffered his first blown save and got the win despite allowing four runs on five hits. He walked one and allowed a homer.

The see-saw contest tiled the Pigs' way in the first on RBI hits by Steve Susdorf and Jim Murphy. The RailRiders responded with a three-spot in the second on Scott Sizemore's two-run triple and a first-pitch run-scoring single by Taylor Dugas to lead 3-2. Cameron Perkins tied it at 3-all in the third with a triple to right and solo homers by Leandro Castro and Murphy in the fifth made it 5-3 Lehigh Valley.

Dugas and Jose Pirela each drove in a run in the sixth for a 5-5 deadlock but Canzler's blast an inning later proved to be the dagger. Zelous Wheeler slammed a two-run homer to right-center in the seventh that drew the RailRiders within a run at 8-7. Alas, Susdorf added an insurance single in the eighth that plated Edgar Duran.

The RailRiders continue their short two-game home set with Lehigh Valley on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. SWB is slated to throw right-hander Alfredo Aceves (0-0, 3.13) against lefty Greg Smith (6-5, 4.03). The game airs live on MyNetworkTV at 7 p.m. Jim Riley will have the call on radio with the pregame show beginning at 6:35 p.m. on NEPA Sports Radio - The GAME, Northeast PA's largest sports radio network: 100.7 FM, 1340 WYCK-AM, 1400 WICK-AM, 1440 WCDL-AM and 106.7 FM. For ticket information or to book a group outing, call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

OFF THE RAILS:

Scott Sizemore tripled twice and now owns a team-high five. He has never had more than five triples in a season.

Each team saw half of its hits go for extra bases (Lehigh Valley 7 of 14; SWB 5 of 10).

In his last four starts, Bruce Billings has gone 0-4 with a 6.38 ERA and six home runs allowed.

The RailRiders trail the IronRail race, 7-4. They now must win four of the last five meetings including the Labor Day regular-season finale to defend their IronRail title. Last year's team did exactly that to claim the rivalry trophy in the inaugural season of the formal IronRail series.

Four Lehigh Valley pitchers threw a total of 161 pitches with just 80 (49.7%) of them going for strikes.

Check out the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Statistics

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International League Stories from June 30, 2014


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