Norfolk Makes Early Scores Stand in 5-2 Win over SWB
Moosic, Pa. - NEPA native Russ Canzler recorded four hits and helped the Norfolk Tides (Triple-A/Baltimore Orioles) defeat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees) on Saturday night, 5-2. It was the night cap of the split doubleheader, and SWB won game one on a walk-off home run by Casey Stevenson. A crowd of 9,002 fans came out to PNC Field, the second-highest total of the season.
The Tides took the lead early with two runs in the first. With one out, Jason Pridie singled to center field. He then stole second base, and scored when Buck Britton singled to left-center field. Cody Grice lost his footing when trying to field Britton's single, and he ended up at third base on the two-base error. Britton came around to score when Canzler singled through the left side.
The newest RailRider brought a run back in the bottom of the first. Brent Lillibridge homered on the second pitch he saw in a SWB uniform, and cut the lead to 2-1.
Xavier Avery matched Lillibridge's home run with a round tripper of his own. His homer over the right field wall extended the Norfolk advantage to 3-1.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre narrowed the deficit again in the second. Dan Johnson led off with a double to right-center field, and came around to score when Addison Maruszak singled to right-center field with two outs.
The score remained 4-2 in favor of Norfolk until the Tides added an insurance run in the seventh. With one out, Canzler doubled to center, and scored when Zelous Wheeler followed with a singled up the middle.
Jake Arrieta (4-3) worked six innings and pitched to one batter in the seventh to get the win. He allowed two runs on seven hits, and struck out five batters. Jairo Asencio worked around two hits in the ninth to post his 16th save of the season.
Graham Stoneburner (2-4) started slow, but settled down for SWB. He went five innings, and allowed four runs, three earned, on nine hits. He did not walk a batter, and struck out four in the loss. Dellin Betances tossed two scoreless innings to finish the game for the RailRiders.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will go for the split against Norfolk on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. on a Family Funday presented by NEPA Honda. Kids will be able to get autographs from their favorite RailRiders players, and run the bases after the game. Gates will open up at Noon at PNC Field.
- SWB RailRiders - All Aboard! -