RailRiders Clinch IronRail Trophy with 3-2 Win
Allentown, Pa. - The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) claimed the inaugural IronRail trophy as they defeated the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies) on Saturday night, 3-2. Trailing 8-7 in the season-series, the RailRiders captured the final game between the two clubs of the season to bring the trophy to NEPA.
For the sixth time this season, the RailRiders hit back-to-back home runs. With one out in the top of the fourth, Ronnier Mustelier slammed his sixth home run of the season to left field. Randy Ruiz followed up with a round tripper of his own. It landed on the left-center field lawn. It was Ruiz's 17th of the season, and he leads all active players on SWB.
The RailRiders extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth. Jose Gil led off with a base hit, then moved to second on a single by Addison Maruszak. He later advanced to third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brent Lillibridge.
Lehigh Valley plated their only two runs in the sixth inning. Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis began the inning with a single and double respectively, and both came home on a single up the middle by Josh Fields.
Brett Marshall was a late scratch, and Yoshinori Tateyama was pressed into starting duty. It was his first start stateside, and he stifled IronPig hitters over three innings. He gave way to David Herndon (1-0), and he proceeded to toss two perfect innings to record the win. Jairo Heredia made his Triple-A debut the day he was added to the SWB roster, and he worked the final four innings.
The RailRiders and IronPigs tied their season-series at eight games apiece, but the tie-breaker goes to the team that was victorious in the final matchup.
Raul Valdes (4-5) started the game for Lehigh Valley, and he received the loss. The left-hander allowed three runs (two earned) in seven innings.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre now travels to Rochester, N.Y. to play the final two games of their season. Sunday's game against the Red Wings is set for a 6:05 p.m. first pitch, and Graham Stoneburner (4-5, 4.65) will take the mound for the RailRiders. He'll be opposed by Pat Dean (2-2, 2.18). Pre-game coverage will get underway at 5:35 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.
- SWB RailRiders - All Aboard! -