Tides Score Two in the Ninth to Beat RailRiders
Moosic, Pa. - A double and a defensive miscue on the same play helped the Norfolk Tides (Triple-A/Baltimore Orioles) rally from a 4-0 deficit to defeat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) on Friday night, 5-4. A crowd of 9,147 fans packed PNC Field, which is the highest crowd of the season for the RailRiders.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre took the early lead with two runs in the first. With one out, Cody Grice singled to left, stole second base, and scored when Fernando Martinez singled to right field. Martinez advanced to second on the play when Hoes misplayed the ball in right field. He moved to third on a ground out, and scored when Dan Johnson doubled to right field.
The RailRiders added two more in the second. Corey Patterson, one of five new additions to the SWB roster prior to Friday night's game, led off the frame with a single to right field. Grice followed with another base hit, and Patterson scored when Martinez drove a ball to right field for a single. Grice later came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Johnson.
Norfolk cut the lead in half in the fourth off of SWB starter Zach Nuding who was making his Triple-A debut. With two outs, Zelous Wheeler singled to right, and scored when Brandon Waring hit a towering home run to left field.
The Tides brought another run in the back in the fifth. Chris Snyder singled, moved to second on a base hit by Hoes, and to third when Jason Pridie walked. He scored on a base hit by Buck Britton. The RailRider lead was just 4-3 after five innings of play.
Mike Zagurski, another new addition to SWB, was brought in to close out the game in the ninth. Xavier Avery reached on a fielder's choice, which setup Hoes' deep drive to center field. The ball one-hopped the wall, which allowed Avery to score, even as he slipped at third. The ball was misplayed by Grice initially, but Walter Ibarra's throw to third base got away from Addison Maruszak, and it allowed Hoes to score the go-ahead run.
Jair Jurrjens (5-4) allowed the early runs, but settled down and worked eight innings. Jairo Asencio closed out the game in the ninth for his 15th save of the season.
Nuding received a no-decision, but allowed just three runs over five and two-thirds innings in his debut. He struck out five, and scattered seven hits. Zagurski (1-1) picked up his first loss in a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre uniform.
The two clubs will play a split-doubleheader at PNC Field on Saturday as they continue their series. Game one will start at 12:05 p.m., and gates will open at 11 a.m. The first 2,500 fans will receive a free bat courtesy of Kost Tire & Auto. Game two will begin at 7:05 p.m., with fans needing a separate ticket as the ballpark will be closed and cleaned after game one. The Cowboy Monkey Rodeo will be on hand. Caleb Cotham (2-4, 8.40) and Graham Stoneburner (2-3, 4.46) will start games one and two respectively for the RailRiders.
- SWB RailRiders - All Aboard! -