MOOSIC, Pa. – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) couldn’t hold a two-run lead late and the Syracuse Chiefs escaped PNC Field with a 4-2 win on Saturday afternoon at PNC Field. The Chiefs improved to 2-1 with the win while dropping the RailRiders to 1-2.
Former Yankee Rich Hill took home the win in relief after pitching the seventh. He walked two batters, but rebounded to strike out a pair. Jacob Lindgren (0-1) was stuck with the loss after giving up two runs, both unearned, in 1.2 innings of work. The left-hander allowed two hits, one walk and fanned a batter. Rafael Martin earned his first save of 2015 with two scoreless innings for the Chiefs.
The RailRiders had to rely on the bullpen for all nine innings Saturday after the promotion of their originally scheduled starter, Matt Tracy, to the Yankees. Danny Burawa made his first career start and tossed two scoreless innings before giving way to Eric Wooten. The southpaw impressed in his Triple-A debut, hurling 3.2 innings while allowing one unearned run on four hits. Jose Ramirez pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing a run on three hits.
With no runners crossing home the first three innings, the RailRiders went to work in the fourth against Chiefs starter Taylor Hill. Rob Segedin reached on a fielding error by shortstop Emmanuel Burriss and moved to second after Cole Figueroa worked a walk. Jonathan Galvez followed with a bounder just inside the third base bag to double in Segedin for a 1-0 lead. Figueroa scored from third on a groundout by Ben Gamel to put SWB up 2-0.
Syracuse got an unearned run across in the fifth. Caleb Ramsey singled and stole second. The Chiefs’ right fielder advanced to third on a fly out. Derrick Robinson rolled a grounder to Figueroa at short, but the throw sailed over Galvez at first. The miscue allowed Ramsey to score, cutting the lead to 2-1.
The eighth inning proved the decider as the RailRiders watched Syracuse score three times. Robinson beat out a bunt single and Burriss reached on an error at second by Rob Refsnyder. Tony Gwynn Jr. sacrificed the runners into scoring position and Mark Minicozzi delivered a double to center that scored Robinson to tie the game 2-2.
Ramirez relieved Lindgren and intentionally walked Kila Ka’aihue to load the bases. Jason Martinson hit into a comebacker, allowing Ramirez to force out Burriss at home. However, Ramsey plunked the next batter, Ramsey, to force home the go-ahead runner Minicozzi. Dan Butler capped the frame with a single to right that scored Ka’aihue. Slade Heathcott threw out Martinson trying to score on the play to end the inning.
The RailRiders wrap up their opening series against the Syracuse Chiefs (Washington Nationals) on Sunday, April 12. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. at PNC Field. For more information please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.
