MLBDL Trenton Thunder

RailRiders Rally to Win Series Opener

Published on June 9, 2021 under Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
Trenton Thunder News Release


(Trenton, NJ) - After a one hour and 45 minute rain delay in their series opener at Trenton Thunder Ballpark, the Bisons and RailRiders started their six-game series with a back-and-forth affair that stretched well past midnight. A four run first helped the Herd build an early 5-0 lead, but the visitors responded by scoring seven unanswered runs to win their fourth straight in the head-to-head matchups. Derek Dietrich's two-RBI single in the eighth was the game-winner for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (20-9), which extended its first-place lead despite being outhit in the ballgame 9-7.

Facing Yankees Major League rehabber Zack Britton in the bottom of the first, the Bisons went to work and got a one-out single from Kevin Smith after a leadoff walk from Christian Colon. Tyler White gapped a 1-1 pitch for his eighth double and a 2-0 lead, and newcomer Jared Hoying homered to right in his first at bat of the season to chase Britton and give Buffalo a 4-0 lead.

Herd starter Anthony Kay was staked to a 5-0 edge when Smith hit his team-leading seventh homer the other way to right for his 20th run batted in off Adam Warren in the third. In the fourth, the RailRiders started their rally with Dietrich's first single to get on the board and a two-RBI knock from number nine hitter Andrew Velazquez to make it a 5-3 ballgame.

During Kay's final inning in the sixth, he surrendered a solo homer to Robinson Chirinos before striking out Dietrich to end his night with two outs in the inning for his longest start since September 7, 2019 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Connor Overton secured the next three outs, and lefthander Tayler Saucedo started the eighth with a 5-4 lead to protect.

Saucedo plunked first baseman Mike Ford with a 1-2 pitch to put the tying run aboard, and Trey Amburgey ripped a double into the left field corner with one out. An intentional walk to Chirinos loaded the bases for Dietrich, and the veteran came through with a two-RBI single to give the RailRiders their first lead at 6-5.

In the home half of the eighth, White led off with a single and Hoying followed with a walk, allowing Richard Ureña to drop down a sacrifice bunt to push both runners into scoring position. Catcher Juan Graterol then sent a sharp grounder to third and Dietrich threw home to nab White for a huge second out. A wild pitch put runners back at second and third, but RailRiders closer Luis Garcia escaped when Cullen Large lined out to Greg Allen in right for the final out. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre scored its final run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly from Ford, and Garcia got a strikeout and double play to secure his league-leading ninth save and a 7-5 win.

The series continues on Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00 PM when the Bisons and RailRiders get together for the second game of six. Pregame coverage with Gregg Caserta and Dave Schofield starts at 6:30 with the Thunder/Bisons Pregame Show on the Thunder/Bisons Radio Network. The first 1,000 Thunder fans ages 13 and over will receive an ARM & HAMMER 2019 Replica Championship Ring. To purchase tickets, call (609)-394-3300, Opt 4 or visit trentonthunder.com.

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