Syracuse, N.Y. – Crooked numbers littered the scoreboard as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) crushed the Syracuse Chiefs (Washington Nationals) on Thursday night, 10-2. SWB (29-26) won its eighth straight road game while Syracuse (17-37) fell for the 18th time in 19 games overall.
A five-spot in the fourth inning gave the RailRiders all they would need. Run-scoring groundouts by Kyle Roller and Austin Romine preceded a three-run homer by Nick Noonan off surprise starter Austen Williams (0-1). Roller smashed a two-run dinger in the fifth, his team-leading eighth, to lengthen the lead.
That was more than enough for starter Jaron Long (4-4) who allowed two runs (one earned) over six frames.
Jonathan Galvez and Mason Williams each had an RBI in a three-run eighth to round out the scoring while relieversNick Rumbelow, Chris Martin and Branden Pinder each fired a scoreless inning.
The RailRiders and Chiefs close out the short two-game set on Friday, June 5 at 7:05 p.m. The Yankees’ No. 1 prospect, right-hander Luis Severino (0-0, 4.15), is scheduled to make his second Triple-A start. Syracuse will look to right-hander Paolo Espino (1-0, 1.32). SWB returns home to host the Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins) from June 11-14. The four-game set includes two fireworks nights and a Derek Jeter bobblehead giveaway on Saturday, June 13 courtesy of Allied Services. For tickets or more information, call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit the team’s website, www.swbrailriders.com.
OFF THE RAILS:
Nick Noonan thundered his first home run of the season. He last went yard on Aug. 26, 2014 while with Triple-A Fresno at Memphis.
The eight-run margin matched SWB’s 10-2 win at Durham for its most lopsided win of the season. That May 14 triumph at Durham Bulls Athletic Park sparked the RailRiders’ active eight-game road winning streak.
The RailRiders had not won eight straight road games since it swept Charlotte and Gwinnett in back-to-back four-game series on a single road trip from April 29-May 5, 2013.
SWB has not won nine consecutive road games since taking its first 10 such affairs in 2009. The 10th triumph in that run was a 17-14 game that took 13 innings and 4:43 at Rochester on April 25.
Kyle Roller is now tied for second in the IL with his eight home runs. Only Charlotte’s Matt Davidson, who has hit seven of his nine home runs at the hitter-friendly BB&T Ballpark, has more big flies in the IL this season.
SWB secured multi-hit efforts from Rob Refsnyder and Cole Figueroa.
Ben Gamel reached base three times thanks to two walks and a single. He scored twice.
The RailRiders stand three games above .500 for the third time this season. They have not owned a record four games above sea level since the 2013 squad was 20-16 after a 3-2 loss at Gwinnett on May 13.
Austen Williams made the start in place of A.J. Cole who was called up to the Nationals. Williams was a sixth-round pick in 2014 and had not pitched above the Low-A level in his short career. He gave up five runs on four hits and two walks over four innings.
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