RailRiders Fall in Season-Finale to Rochester

Rochester, N.Y. - The 2013 season came to a tough conclusion for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) on Monday afternoon. A nine-run first inning sparked a 13-3 win for the Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins) as the Red Wings clinched an International League playoff spot as the wildcard team.

The RailRiders went out in front early thanks to a lead-off home run by Corey Patterson in the first. It marked the third a RailRider had connected for a lead-off homer, and it was the second time Patterson had accomplished the feat.

The lead was short lived, as Rochester plated nine runs in the bottom of the first. With Antoan Richardson and James Beresford aboard, Eduardo Escobar began the scoring when he doubled to right-center field. It drove both runs home, and Escobar came around when Jeff Clement singled to right. Following a sac-fly by Eric Farris, and run-scoring plays by Ray Olmedo, Eric Fryer, Richardson, and Beresford, Escobar capped the inning with another two-run double.

SWB countered with two runs in the third. Addison Maruszak, Patterson, and Brent Lillibridge hit consecutive singles to load the bases. Ronnier Mustelier then singled through the left side to plate two runs. The inning came to a halt when Adonis Garcia bounced into a triple play that ended the inning.

Rochester scored three more in the bottom of the third. Escobar led off with a home run, and Farris and Olmedo later added singles that plated Chris Parmelee and Clement to push the lead back to nine.

Ryan Baker was very effective out of the RailRider bullpen, as he allowed just one run in his three innings of work. The lone run came with two outs in the eighth when Fryer hit a home run off the left-field foul pole. It gave the game its final margin of 13-3 in favor of Rochester.

Scott Diamond (4-0) allowed three runs over seven innings to earn the win. SWB starter Caleb Cotham (6-6) was handed the loss.

The RailRiders conclude the 2013 season with a 68-76 record, and finish fifth in the International League North Division. A total of 435,839 fans came out to the reimagined PNC Field. SWB will open up the 2014 regular season on the road, but will have their home opener at PNC Field on Thursday, April 10 against the Syracuse Chiefs (Washington Nationals).

- SWB RailRiders - All Aboard! -