IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

Refsnyder, Judge Power Comeback Win

Published on August 14, 2015 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


Rochester, N.Y. - Without a hit through six innings, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) more than made up for it. Championed by crushed home runs from Rob Refsnyder and Aaron Judge, SWB sent all nine to the plate in a five-run seventh en route to a 5-3 series-opening win over the Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins) at Frontier Field on Friday night. The RailRiders (69-52) have won a season-high-tying six straight games. Rochester (61-60) has lost four of five.

The Twins' top-ranked pitching prospect, Jose Berrios, had allowed just one man to reach base through six innings. That all changed when Refsnyder bashed a no-doubt home run to left field to spark the seventh for a 2-1 score. It stalled a string of 17 straight men retired since Refsnyder was hit by a pitch in the first. It also ignited a run of seven straight clean baserunners including a majestic three-run homer by Judge for a 4-2 edge. IL All-Star Austin Romine rounded out the scoring with an RBI single to right that scored Slade Heathcott and chased Berrios (3-2).

SWB starter Brady Lail tossed a solid 5.2 innings of two-run ball, but it was reliever James Pazos (3-1) who earned the win. He stranded an inherited runner behind Lail and retired the lone man he faced, Xavier Avery, on a strikeout looking.

Rochester added a run in the eighth with an Avery single that plated Reynaldo Rodriguez.

But in the ninth, Cesar Vargas struck out the side in a perfect ninth for a save in his Triple-A debut. The game ended when he whiffed the man named baseball's No. 1 prospect entering the season, Byron Buxton.

The series continues at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday evening. SWB right-hander Kyle Davies (8-6, 3.51) faces fellow righty Michael Bowden (8-3, 2.57).

The RailRiders return to PNC Field for a six-game homestand on Tuesday, Aug. 18 as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies) and Red Wings come to town. It starts with T-Shirt Tuesday presented by Norwegian Cruise Lines. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a Mr. IncrediBall T-shirt.

Check out the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



International League Stories from August 14, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central