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Wild Night: RailRiders fall 10-8 in opener

Alvarez doubles twice, Pita goes deep in loss at Syracuse
Matt Pita hit his second three-run homer of the series for the RailRiders, but SWB fell 7-3 at Buffalo on Thursday. (Todd Hiller)
July 27, 2021

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (July 27, 2021) – In a wild contest on Tuesday night, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders fell to the Syracuse Mets 10-8 at NBT Bank Stadium. The Mets took the lead in the bottom of the second with a six-run inning, sending 10 batters to the plate despite just two

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (July 27, 2021) – In a wild contest on Tuesday night, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders fell to the Syracuse Mets 10-8 at NBT Bank Stadium.

The Mets took the lead in the bottom of the second with a six-run inning, sending 10 batters to the plate despite just two hits against Luis Gil. Former RailRider Mark Payton had a key two-run single which helped end Gil’s night after only 1.1 innings.

SWB struck back in the top of the third with a pair of runs against Vance Worley. Andrew Velazquez had an RBI single to get the RailRiders on the board, and a Socrates Brito sacrifice fly closed the deficit to 6-2. Velazquez had a great night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored. He also started a spectacular double play in the fourth with a diving stop and a behind-the-back flip to second.

In the top of the fourth, the RailRiders tied the game with another outburst against Worley. After back-to-back hits to start the inning, Brandon Wagner brought in a run with an RBI single. Matt Pita followed with a three-run homer to left to draw even at 6-6. The long ball was Pita’s second of the year with the RailRiders.

Syracuse took the lead with a run in the fifth against Reggie McClain, but Scranton/Wilkes-Barre responded with two runs in the sixth to take its first lead. Velazquez tied the game with an RBI double off A.J. Shugel and scored on a Brito base hit to go up 8-7.

However, the Mets regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double from Chance Sisco. They tacked on another on a Mason Williams sacrifice fly in the seventh to take a 10-8 lead.

The RailRiders brought the tying runs to the plate in both the eighth and ninth innings, but could not score against the Mets bullpen. Shugel (1-1) got the win with 2.1 innings of relief for the Mets, while McClain (5-2) took the loss. Tom Windle notched his second save of the season.

POSTGAME NOTES: Kyle Holder finished the game 3-for-3 with a run scored and two walks, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances.

The RailRiders continue their series with the Mets on Wednesday at NBT Bank Stadium. LHP Matt Krook (2-2, 4.50) gets the start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, while Syracuse counters with RHP Akeem Bostick (0-4, 6.21). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 6:15 on the RailRiders Baseball Network

SWB returns home to PNC Field on Tuesday, August 3 to begin a series with the Worcester Red Sox. For tickets and more information, call (570) 969-BALL or slide to www.swbrailriders.com/tickets.