MOOSIC, Pa. – Tyler Austin fell a triple shy of the cycle and Chase Whitley tossed five strong innings as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders downed the Syracuse Chiefs 3-1 Sunday afternoon at PNC Field. The two clubs split the season-opening series and enter the first full week of the International League campaign 2-2.

Whitley (1-0) limited the Chiefs to four hits across five scoreless innings while walking two and striking out a pair. Nick Rumbelow earned his first save of 2015, allowing a solo home run to Caleb Ramsey over 1.1 innings of work. The right-hander fanned three Syracuse batters. Scott McGregor (0-1) absorbed the loss after allowing two runs on three hits across 4.2 frames.

Austin attempted to become the second RailRider in the four-game series to hit for the cycle after Ramon Flores turned the trick on Opening Night. He began the charge in the second inning with a rocket out to left for his first home run at the Triple-A level, putting SWB up 1-0. He added to the advantage in the fourth by scoring Kyle Roller from first on a double into the left-center alley.

Rob Refsnyder reached on a fielding error to open the sixth and moved to second a deep fly out to center by Roller. Austin earned his third hit, a single up the middle, to advance Refsnyder to third. Austin Romine helped the RailRiders by stroking a double to left, allowing Refsnyder to score for a 3-0 lead.

Tyler Webb relieved Whitley in the sixth and held Syracuse to a hit and one walk over 2.2 innings before giving way to Rumbelow in the eighth. Ramsey’s blast out to left came with one out in the ninth.

The RailRiders open a three-game series against the Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins) on Monday, April 13. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. at PNC Field. For more information please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.