Home Sweet Home: SWB topples PawSox 11-1

RailRiders score seven over first two innings to take series opener at PNC Field

Erik Kratz had three hits, including his seventh home run for the RailRiders, helping back Brian Keller to his first Triple-A win. (Todd Hiller)

By Madonna Mantione

August 19, 2019

MOOSIC, PA (August 19, 2019) - The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders used an explosion of offense out of the gate over the first two innings- scoring seven runs and batting around twice- en route to defeating the Pawtucket Red Sox 11-1 Monday night at PNC Field.

MOOSIC, PA (August 19, 2019) - The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders used an explosion of offense out of the gate over the first two innings- scoring seven runs and batting around twice- en route to defeating the Pawtucket Red Sox 11-1 Monday night at PNC Field.

RailRiders starting pitcher Brian Keller threw 6.0 shutout innings in his third Triple-A start for SWB, bouncing back from a tough outing his last time out in Charlotte. He allowed a pair of base runners to begin the night, but then settled down, retiring 11 in-a-row from the first through the fourth innings allowing his offense to grab a lead.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre plated four runs on three hits and three walks against Red Sox starter Erasmo Ramírez. Keeping the momentum into the second inning, Clint Frazier, Ryan McBroom and Mandy Alvarez all hit RBI singles, plating three runs and extending the lead to 7-0. Five innings later, Terrance Gore brought home Gosuke Katoh with a groundout in the bottom of the seventh, increasing the home team's advantage to 8-0.

In the bottom of the eighth, Kratz smacked a solo home run to dead center off Pawtucket position player Cole Sturgeon. The lefty came in out of the bullpen throwing 88-90 MPH in his third relief outing of the season. The homer by Kratz off the former Louisville Cardinals closer made it 9-0, and then Scranton/Wilkes-Barre plated two more runs later in the inning to secure an 11-0 lead.

The PawSox notched their lone tally in the top of the ninth inning as Sturgeon doubled and plated a run, spoiling a combined shutout bid by the RailRiders with one out to go.

Keller (1-1) limited Pawtucket to only four hits while striking out eight on the night. The effort earned him his first career Triple-A win. Ramirez (4-8) was charged the loss for Pawtucket after he went just 1.1 innings on 61 pitches and surrendering seven runs. His season ERA jumped from 4.25 to 4.75 following the outing.

The RailRiders continue the series against Pawtucket Tuesday evening. First pitch of game two is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.