One Off: SWB falls on walk-off solo blast

NORFOLK, VA. (August 8, 2018) - The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders lost 1-0 to the Norfolk Tides on a walk-off home run at Harbor Park Wednesday evening. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Luis Sardiñas hit a 1-0 pitch from Stephen Tarpley onto the awning of the left field picnic area to give the Tides the win and even the series at one.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre faced former RailRiders southpaw Josh Rogers for the first time since he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on July 24. Rogers entered play with a 1-1 record for the Tides with a 2.08 earned run average. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre countered with Erik Swanson.
The RailRiders put the first two batters of the second inning on with hits. Mike Ford doubled and Ronald Torreyes singled, but Rogers stuck out Zack Zehner before inducing a flyout and a groundout to end the inning. The lefty faced three batters in the third, four batters in the fourth with a double play, three in the fifth including a double play, and was perfect in the sixth and seventh. 
Swanson was up to the task, matching zeros with Rogers for seven innings. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's starting pitcher struck out seven with one walk, stranding one in in the first, facing the minimum in the second thanks to a double play, three in the third, three in the fourth and three over the minimum in the fifth through seventh innings.
The RailRiders best chances came late against the Tides bullpen. Rogers was lifted after seven and a third. With two outs and runners on first and second in the eighth, Abiatal Avelino reached on an infield single, but manager Bobby Mitchell sent pinch runner L.J. Mazzilli to the plate to attempt to score. Garabez Rosa's throw home was in time to nab Mazzilli and keep the game scoreless.
In the bottom of the eighth, Norfolk loaded the bases against Tommy Kahnle, but the reliever struck out D.J. Stewart and induced a groundout by Pedro Álvarez to end the inning.
In the top of the ninth, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre left two in scoring position. With one out in the home half, Sardinas's solo home run sent the RailRiders to their fourth walk-off loss of the year.
Tarpley (1-1) took the loss while Lucas Long (2-0) notched the win.
With the win, Norfolk regained a one-game lead in the wild card race.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Norfolk conclude this three-game set on Thursday at 12:05 p.m. LHP Justus Sheffield (5-3, 2.31) will make the start for the RailRiders against the Tides and LHP John Means (5-3, 3.25). Scranton/Wilkes-Barre opens a three-game series in Durham Friday night before returning to PNC Field for a seven-game homestand starting on Monday, August 13.