IL1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

Resiliency Prevails: RailRiders win seesaw affair 8-7

Published on May 9, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders exploded in the first inning, and fended-off a couple middle-inning rallies by the Syracuse Chiefs Wednesday night to secure the series win and an 8-7 win.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre jumped to an early 5-0 lead against Syracuse's Cesar Vargas in the top of the first. With two outs, Clint Frazier (2-for-5, 2B, R) singled and Mike Ford (1-for-4, BB, R) walked. Adam Lind (3-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB) singled in Frazier to start the scoring and Kyle Higashioka (2-for-5, R, RBI) singled home Ford for a 2-0 advantage. Zack Zehner (1-for-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB) hit a 3-2 over the centerfield wall for the 5-0 lead. It was Zehner's fourth home run of the season and gave him 16 runs batted in to match Higashioka's team-high.

The Chiefs managed one run against RailRiders starter Chance Adams in the bottom of the second and evened the game in the third with four runs. Syracuse sent all nine batters to the plate and tallied four runs on four straight base hits for a 5-5 score.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre quickly responded in the fourth. Vargas, a former Yankees farmhand, walked Zehner to leadoff the inning and Bruce Caldwell doubled him in for a 6-5 edge. The RailRiders added a run in the sixth on an error for a 7-5 lead.

In the home half of the inning, Syracuse scored twice without a base hit. Raynel Espinal walked Spencer Kieboom and Bengie Gonzalez. Joe Harvey relieved Espinal and the first batter he faced, Rafael Bautista laid down a sacrifice bunt. Harvey's throw to third to get the lead runner was errant, allowing both Kieboom and Gonzalez to score to tie the game.

The RailRiders took the lead back in the seventh when Caldwell singled to shallow left, driving in Lind for an 8-7 lead.Caldwell had his first multi-hit game of his career with the RailRiders (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI)

The bullpen made it hold up down the stretch. Cody Carroll entered for a scoreless final two innings, including striking out the final three men of the game after allowing the tying run into scoring position after a Jose Marmolejos leadoff double to begin the ninth inning. All told, the bullpen tossed 6.1 innings and didn't allow an earned run while scattering three hits and striking out eight men.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre returns home Thursday to begin a seven-game, eight-day homestand. Rochester and Lehigh Valley visit PNC Field for a four and three game series, respectively with an off day splitting the two sets. Josh Rogers (2-3, 3.15) gets the call in the series opener Thursday against the Red Wings and New York Yankees Minor Leaguer Zack Littell (1-0, 0.00). The series begins on a Thirsty Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Record:

15-17

Check out the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Statistics

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International League Stories from May 9, 2018


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