Home Runs Not Enough in 6-3 Loss

Pawtucket, R.I. - Jose Pirela went 3-for-3 with a home run, but three double play balls spoiled Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) threats in a 6-3 loss to the Pawtucket Red Sox (Boston Red Sox) Saturday night at McCoy Stadium. The loss is the fifth for the RailRiders in its last six ballgames and drops the club a game below .500 at 20-21.

With runners at first and third, Ryan Roberts ignited a four-run fourth inning with a run scoring single that brought around the contests first run. Pawtucket loaded the bases on a single by Ryan Lavarnway before Brandon Snyder capped the inning with a bases clearing triple that swung the game in favor of the Red Sox, 4-0.

SWB did its best to rally, tallying three unanswered runs in the sixth and the seventh. Dean Anna put the RailRiders on the board with a home run in the in the sixth, his first of the season. Pirela followed suit after Zelous Wheeler reached on a two-out base hit with a home run to left that brought the game to within one at 4-3.

Branden Pinder surrender his first run as a RailRider in the eighth after Snyder doubled the lead with a home run and Cory Wade capped the scoring with a two-out RBI double off Pinder that pushed the lead to 5-3.

SWB failed to get a runner in scoring position, managing to get a runner on base in each of the nine innings.

Brian Gordon (2-4) grinded through 6.2 innings allowing four runs on eight hits in the loss, while Brandon Workman (3-1) scattered six hits and allowed two home runs in the win. Alex Wilson (5) worked around a base hit in the ninth to earn the save.

The RailRiders will continue the second leg of an eight-game road trip with the game two against the Pawtucket Red Sox Sunday, May 18 at 1:05 p.m. SWB sends righty Zach Nuding (1-2, 11.75) to the bump, while Pawtucket sends right-hander Rubby De La Rosa (2-3, 3.40) to the hill. John Sadak and Aaron Berlin will have the call on radio with the pregame show beginning at 12:35 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:

Adonis Garcia extended a season-best 14-game hitting streak with a single in the fourth.

The three double plays turned against SWB marked the fourth time this season a club has accomplished the feat.

Brandon Pinder allowed his first run to cross in four outings.

- SWB RailRiders - All Aboard! -