Moosic, Pa. – Zoilo Almonte added a three-run home run and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (10-10) combined for 13 base hits, but a bases-clearing triple by Anthony Gose proved too much to overcome as the RailRiders fell 6-5 to the Buffalo Bisons (10-9) Thursday night at PNC Field.
Buffalo began the scoring with a four-run second inning that saw eight men make their way to the plate. Dan Johnson led the frame off with a single and came around to score on a base hit by Jared Goedert. RailRiders starting pitcher David Herndon, after a one-two-three first inning, labored through the second. Five-straight batters reached base to begin the inning. The first run came in the form of a Jared Goedert single that plated Johnson before Anthony Gose provided the exclamation mark with a bases-clearing triple to right. The extra base hit gave the Bisons the early lead 4-0.
Buffalo extended its lead in third after Chris Getz reached on an infield hit. After a single by Johnson was erased on a fielder’s choice that moved Getz to third, the second baseman scored on a throwing error by reliever Fred Lewis. The single tally in the third pushed the Bisons lead to 5-0.
Another run crossed in the fourth after Gose reached on a two-out base hit. The speedy right fielder took second on a stolen base before coming around to score on a single by Getz. The run was part of three-straight innings that saw the Herd plate a run and pushed the Buffalo lead to 6-0.
SWB combined to toss five pitchers after starter Herndon was limited to two innings of work, before the RailRiders were forced to piece together the remainder of the game. Relief outings by Mark Montgomery and Matt Daley over the final four frames kept the Herd’s offense at bay to give the RailRiders a chance.
SWB’s first run came in the form of a bases loaded walk. After starting pitcher Liam Hendriks departed the game after giving up a double, consecutive walks by Mickey Storey loaded the bases. The lone run of the inning came around to score after Ryan Tepera issued the bases loaded the walk to Ramon Flores.
The score remained 6-1 until the ninth inning. Carmen Angelini added his second hit on a single up the middle and came around score for the innings first run. After Richardson and Sizemore each added back-to-back base hits, Almonte made the game interesting with a three-run home run to right. The long ball pulled the RailRiders to within one run where it remained.
Buffalo reliever Chad Jenkins (2) finished the game, facing the final three batters before inducing a fly out to Jose Pirela for the final out. The RailRiders sent eight men to plate as part of the four-run ninth.
Herndon (0-2) suffered the loss, while Liam Hendriks (3-0) earned the win with a five-inning effort.
The RailRiders will finish off an eight-game homestand at PNC Field Friday, April 25 at 7:05 p.m. when the RailRider host the Bisons for the final game of a four-game set. SWB is still TBA, while Buffalo sends left-hander Sean Nolin (1-0, 2.70) to the mound. Aaron Berlin will have the call on radio with the pregame show beginning at 6:35 p.m. on NEPA Sports Radio – The GAME, Northeast PA’s largest sports radio network: 100.7 FM, 1340 WYCK-AM, 1400 WICK-AM, 1440 WCDL-AM and 106.7 FM. For season ticket information, single-game tickets or to book a ballpark group outing, call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.
OFF THE RAILS:
- Zoilo Almonte’s home run in the ninth was his third of the season off Buffalo.
- Adonis Garcia’s 11-game hitting streak came to a halt with a 0-for-3 night.
- Six different RailRider hitters added multi-hit efforts.
- David Herndon’s start was his first since he was with Advanced-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2008.
– SWB RailRiders – All Aboard! –
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