Wild Ninth Continues Domination of Bisons

Buffalo, N.Y. - The SWB RailRiders' (Triple-A/New York Yankees) domination of the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) continued on Friday night with a 3-1 triumph at Coca-Cola Field. The RailRiders (57-34) have won 24 of their last 34 overall while the Bisons (38-54) have lost 31 of their last 38 including 10 straight versus SWB. Going back to last season, the RailRiders have won 25 of the last 31 head-to-head meetings with the Bisons.
Tied 1-1 in the ninth, three infield hits, all to short, one walk and two passed balls added up to a pair of runs for SWB. Miguel Andújar reached on an infield single with one out, took second on a passed ball and was joined on the bases by Jake Cave after a walk by rehabbing big leaguer J.P. Howell. One out later, Devyn Bolasky collected an infield single and Abiatal Avelino followed with a run-scoring infield hit for a 2-1 margin. With Eddy Rodriguez batting and new reliever Murphy Smith on, a second passed ball on Buffalo catcher Mike Ohlman gave Cave a path to the plate to make it 3-1.
Right-hander Nick Rumbelow worked around a leadoff double by Rowdy Tellez in the ninth, retiring the next three in order for his first Triple-A save of the season.
Reliever Giovanny Gallegos (1-1) earned the win with 2.2 perfect innings, whiffing four. He inherited a one-out bases-loaded jam in the sixth, but got Ohlman to pop out to second and struck Jon Berti out looking to quell the threat. Howell (0-1) suffered the loss.
Each team got a run in the first inning. Ground-rule doubles by Mason Williams and Billy McKinney made it 1-0 SWB before Buffalo responded with a two-out RBI triple from Jason Leblebijian.
The RailRiders return home on Monday, July 17 to open a seven-game homestand. It starts with the first of three against the Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles) at 7:05 p.m. The Dollar Dog Monday will sport $1 hot dogs, $1 lawn tickets and the chance to bring your pup to the ballpark for just $1, all presented by the Times-Tribune. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.
OFF THE RAILS:
The 2017 RailRiders lost their first five games against Buffalo before ripping off 10 straight wins. With five more head-to-head meetings remaining, SWB cannot lose the regular-season series to its division rival. The RailRiders have not posted a losing mark to the Bisons since the 2014 unit went 7-9.
Abiatal Avelino finished 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
Mason Williams went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored.
Billy McKinney went 1-for-4 with a run-scoring double.
Nick Rumbelow logged his first Triple-A save since Aug. 31, 2015, also at Buffalo. He made just one appearance in 2016 before undergoing Tommy John surgery.
SWB starter Dietrich Enns gave up one run on five hits and two walks over 5.1 innings, striking out four. In five Triple-A starts he owns a 2.30 ERA.
Giovanny Gallegos has only allowed two of his 10 inherited runners to score this season between the bigs (5IR/2S) and Triple-A (5IR/0S).
Both benches and Buffalo starter Cesar Valdez were warned by home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz after Jake Cave and Valdez exchanged words in the fourth inning after Cave grounded out to Valdez.
With a 2-0 lead on the four-game series, the RailRiders ensured their total number of series lost remains at one since dropping two of three in Pawtucket from May 8-10.
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