Almonte Drives in Game-Winning Run in Extras
Moosic, Pa. - Zoilo Almonte delivered two base hits, including the game-winning RBI in the 11th as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (19-16) squeaked by the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays) 2-1 Sunday afternoon at PNC Field. The extra-inning win for SWB was its fourth of the season and second against the Bulls.
The RailRiders plated the contests first run in the bottom of the second as Zelous Wheeler launched a home run to left-center field for the early 1-0 advantage. The home run by Wheeler was his second of the season, with both long balls occurring against the Bulls.
After tossing four scoreless frames and yielding a single base hit, Durham's Cole Figueroa welcomed Eric Ruth to the International League with a dinger to right field that evened the game in the visiting fifth at 1-1.
The later frames were mostly quiet as three different RailRider bullpen arms relieved Ruth to keep the Bulls' offense at bay. Right-hander Diego Moreno allowed three hits, working 2.2 innings of relief before SWB called upon Mark Montgomery to hold the Bulls in check in the eighth and ninth.
Ramon Flores kick-started the 11th inning by reaching on a one-out single before Scott Sizemore moved him to second on a base knock to right. Dean Anna reached on a four-pitch walk that loaded the bases before Almonte drove in the games winning run on an RBI to right off Doug Mathis.
Eric Ruth impressed in his Triple-A debut, twirling five innings and allowing a single tally. Branden Pinder (1-0) earned his first win as a RailRider, tossing a scoreless 10th and 11th inning as Doug Mathis (0-1) was slated with the loss.
The RailRiders will complete the four-game set against the Bulls at PNC Field with a Monday matinee on May 12 at 12:05 p.m. SWB sends right-hander Brian Gordon (2-2, 4.23), while the Bulls toss left-hander Enny Romero (2-4, 5.02). John Sadak and Aaron Berlin will have the call on radio with the pregame show beginning at 11:35 p.m. on NEPA Sports Radio - The GAME, Northeast PA's largest sports radio network: 100.7 FM, 1340 WYCK-AM, 1400 WICK-AM, 1440 WCDL-AM and 106.7 FM. For season ticket information, single-game tickets or to book a ballpark group outing, call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.
OFF THE RAILS:
SWB's offense went in order in three different frames.
Zoilo Almonte was the only RailRider to collect multiple hits in the ballgames (2-5, RBI).
Branden Pinder has now tossed three scoreless innings, facing nine total batters.
- SWB RailRiders - All Aboard! -