IronPigs Sweep RailRiders
Allentown, Pa. - Russ Canzler singled over shortstop with a drawn-in infield to plate Tyler Henson from third base and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) lost in 10 innings and walk-off fashion to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies) at Coca-Cola Park on Wednesday night, 3-2. SWB (43-37) has lost a season-worst six in a row. Combined with Rochester's 8-4 win over Pawtucket, the RailRiders fell out of first place for the first time since claiming the catbird seat on June 9.
Lehigh Valley (33-48) fell behind in the very first inning when Ramon Flores' sac fly scored Ben Gamel. Cole Figueroa singled Rob Refsnyder home in the fourth for a 2-0 lead. Spot starter Dustin McGowan allowed two runs on four hits over four frames during a bullpen day for the IronPigs.
SWB starter Jaron Long logged six scoreless innings before handing the ball to Diego Moreno who allowed the tying runs in the seventh. Cord Phelps tripled Aaron Altherr home from first base while Logan Moore's sac fly plated Phelps to deadlock the game, 2-2.
Tyler Henson tripled off the wall in left-center to start the 10th against reliever Danny Burawa (1-2). After Brian Bogusevic grounded out to second with the infield in, Canzler connected on the walk-off winner.
The RailRiders' road trip shifts to Pawtucket for a short two-game series against the PawSox (Boston Red Sox) starting at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday night. SWB right-hander Luis Severino (3-0, 1.73) will face right-hander Zeke Spruill (4-2, 4.11).
The RailRiders return to PNC Field for a six-day, seven-game homestand starting on the Fourth of July against the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) at 7:05 p.m. Fans 18 and over will receive a voucher for a scratch-off ticket courtesy of the PA Lottery which will also present a post-game fireworks extravaganza. On Sunday, July 5 a day-night doubleheader will have separate nine-inning games at 1:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. The first 2,500 fans in attendance for the Sunday nightcap will receive a Rob Refsnyder bobblehead, presented by Keystone Sanitary Landfill. For more information please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.
OFF THE RAILS:
Austin Romine extended the IL's longest active hitting streak to 17 games with a 3-for-5 night. He has tied Columbus' Jose Ramirez for the IL's longest hitting streak of the season.
Aaron Judge went 2-for-4 with a pair of walks. He has reached base safely in 10 of his last 12 plate appearances.
The RailRiders have been outscored 43-15 during their six-game slide.
SWB had not lost six in a row since a seven-game dip from May 18-25, 2013. That slide started with a four-game sweep at Columbus and carried into three losses at home against Durham.
Rob Refsnyder singled once and walked twice. Since moving to the clean-up position, he is 5-for-13 (.385) with five walks.
The IronPigs lead the season-long IronRail series, 5-4.
SWB lost for the first time in six extra-inning games.
The RailRiders suffered their fourth walk-off loss of 2015 and their first since June 7 at Rochester.
- SWB RailRiders -