RailRiders Can't Solve Martin and Fall to IronPigs, 4-1

Allentown, Pa. - Ethan Martin allowed just one run over seven innings, as he helped the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple-A/Philadelphia Phillies) defeat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees) on Friday night, 4-1. Martin struck out six batters, and issued just three walks in his sixth win of the season.

Martin (6-3) frustrated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lineup, and limited the RailRiders to just four hits. He opposed Jose Ramirez (0-1), who was making his Triple-A debut after being called up from Double-A Trenton before the game. Ramirez picked up the loss but showcased impressive stuff; he struck out five batters over four innings. He also gave up two runs, and issued four walks.

Both of the runs Ramirez conceded were scored in the fourth. Darin Ruf led off with a single, and moved to third on a double by Cody Overbeck. Josh Fields then grounded out to plate Ruf, and Overbeck came around to score on a double by the catcher, Cameron Rupp.

The RailRiders halved the deficit in the top of the fifth. With one out, Josh Bell lined a home run over the right field fence. It was his third of the season, and reduced the deficit to 2-1.

The IronPigs pushed their advantage back to two when Cody Asche hit his seventh home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth.

One more run would be added for Lehigh Valley, and it came around in the sixth. Fields led off the frame with a single, and scored when Leandro Castro tripled to left-center field.

Despite the deficit, Dellin Betances was dominant out of the SWB bullpen. He tossed scoreless frames in the sixth and seventh, and allowed just one base runner, who reached on a defensive miscue. Betances struck out four, and did not walk a batter.

Phillippe Aumont, who has seen time with the Phillies this season, closed down the game for Lehigh Valley. He walked two batters in the ninth, but did not allow a run to earn his first save of the year with Lehigh Valley.

The RailRiders have fallen in their first two games with the IronPigs, and they'll play game three of the four-game series on Saturday evening in Allentown, Pa. SWB left-hander David Huff (3-1, 3.73) will get the start for the RailRiders, and he will be opposed by fellow southpaw, Raul Valdes (0-1, 4.26). First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.; pregame coverage will get underway at 6:05 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.

- SWB RailRiders - All Aboard! -