IronPigs Fall Again at Hands of RailRiders

MOOSIC, PA - The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders plated nine runs despite registering just six hits as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs fell 9-2 Thursday night at PNC Field.

The RailRiders (67-73) scored four runs in the very first inning, as J.R. Murphy and Ronnier Mustelier homered back-to-back before Neil Medchill cracked a two-run homer later in the frame.

In the fifth Lehigh Valley (71-69) stole a run back, as Michael Martinez, Leandro Castro and Steve Lerud all singled consecutively, with Lerud's knock scoring Martinez. Then in the sixth Steve Susdorf delivered a one-out double before scoring two batters later on an RBI single by Josh Fields to make it a 4-2 ball game.

However, the IronPigs never got any closer as the RailRiders exploded for five runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the game away. In the frame Scranton/WB took advantage of erratic pitching, as the 'Pigs issued four walks, a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch in the five-run frame to fall behind 9-2.

Fields, Martinez and Lerud all had two hits apiece, as the IronPigs fell for the second consecutive night at PNC Field.

Chris Bootcheck (10-7) earned the win, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on six hits. Adam Morgan (2-7) suffered the loss for Lehigh Valley, going 1 1/3 frames and allowing four runs on four hits and three walks. Jay Johnson worked 2 2/3 scoreless while Mike Nesseth tossed a pair of scoreless frames as well.

The four-game series shifts to Coca-Cola Park on Friday with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. Right-hander Tyler Cloyd (5-9, 4.89) takes the hill for Lehigh Valley against RHP Chase Whitley (3-2, 3.36) for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.