MOOSIC, Pa. – The SWB RailRiders took home the IronRail trophy and clinched the season series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs with a 7-2 win on Friday night at PNC Field. The RailRiders (75-59) finished 10-8 against their rivals from Allentown, Pa. SWB dropped their magic number to clinch the International League North to five. The IronPigs fell to 60-74.
Kyle Haynes (3-1) earned his second straight win by blanking the IronPigs over six innings. He scattered three hits, walked two and struck out one. Severino Gonzalez (2-6) was rocked in the surprise start for Lehigh Valley. The right-hander allowed seven runs on 12 hits in just 3.1 frames.
Ben Gamel ignited the offense by beating out an infield single in the opening stanza. Rob Refsnyder threaded the needle for a double inside of third to score Gamel from first. Austin Romine later came through with the first of his three hits on the night, singling in Refsnyder.
Kyle Roller continued his breakout week with a bomb to right field. The solo shot to begin the second inning was his team-best 14th of the year.
The RailRiders made it 4-0 in the third on when Gregorio Petit singled with two away and scored on Roller’s triple to right-center. It was his third three-baser of the season.
SWB poured on three more runs in the fourth. Refsnyder and Dustin Ackley singled to start the inning. With Jose Pirela up, the RailRiders attempted a double steal. The throw from catcher Erik Kratz sailed past third and Refsnyder scored on the error. Pirela followed with a triple over the head of Brian Bogusevic in center that easily scored Ackley. Romine capped the frame with a run-scoring single.
Lehigh Valley plated a pair of runs off reliever Nick Rumbelow in the ninth.
The RailRiders begin a five-game road trip with three against the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) at Coca-Cola Field. First pitch on Saturday, August 29, is set for 7:05 p.m. Left-hander Eric Wooten (2-5, 5.05) matches up with veteran southpaw Jeff Francis (5-3, 2.46). The RailRiders will host “Mariano Rivera Day” on Thursday, September 3rd, against the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) with an appearance by the Yankees’ legendary closer himself. For more information please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.
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