Sanchez Clutch in Close Win

Indianapolis, Ind. - Gary Sanchez's two-out single in the ninth drove Greg Bird home for a 2-1 lead that went final as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees) took down the Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates) on Thursday evening, 2-1. SWB (53-47) finished its road trip at 5-3 while Indianapolis (57-42) has suffered back-to-back home losses for the first time since a three-game slip from May 30-June 1.

SWB starter Diego Moreno fired four scoreless innings on three days' rest. Jose Ramirez followed with three innings of relief that saw Hunter Morris' two-out double drive John Bowker home for a 1-0 Indy lead in the seventh.

The RailRiders responded in the eighth as Kyle Roller doubled over first base to begin the inning. Jose Rosario entered as a pinch runner and later scored on a 6-4-3 double play bounced into by Tyler Austin for a 1-1 deadlock.

Indy starter Angel Sanchez fired eight innings of one-run ball before IL All-Star closer Blake Wood entered to start the ninth. With two outs and the bases empty, Bird worked a walk, took second on a wild pitch and scored on the timely contact from Sanchez.

The one-run lead held up as Johnny Barbato (1-0) worked around a leadoff walk with a scoreless eighth for the win in his Triple-A debut. Nick Goody whiffed two in a perfect ninth for his second save.

The RailRiders return home for a five-game homestand at PNC Field. They will give away a special copy of Yankees Magazine to the first 2,500 fans in attendance on Friday, July 24, when the team hosts the Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers) at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Luis Severino (5-0, 1.79) is scheduled to face southpaw Mike Belfiore (4-8, 5.09). For more information please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

OFF THE RAILS:

With a win in the regular-season rubber match, the RailRiders won four of the seven meetings with Indianapolis. Five of those seven games were decided by one run.

- SWB RailRiders -