Holding Strong: SWB hangs on for 8-7 come back win
ALLENTOWN, PA (September 22, 2022) –The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (79-64) hung on in a comeback win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 8-7. They trailed 5-2 after five before scoring six unanswered runs while tallying fifteen hits. The RailRiders jumped on opener Trevor Bettencourt for a pair in the first inning. A
ALLENTOWN, PA (September 22, 2022) –The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (79-64) hung on in a comeback win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 8-7. They trailed 5-2 after five before scoring six unanswered runs while tallying fifteen hits.
The RailRiders jumped on opener Trevor Bettencourt for a pair in the first inning. A Ronald Guzmán sac fly and Chris Owings RBI infield single gave them the lead. SWB starter Zach Greene tossed two scoreless frames to preserve the lead early. He struck out a season-high five with his fifth strikeout setting a franchise record, the team’s 1,320th of the season. It bests the 2019 club which struck out 1,319.
Lehigh Valley broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning. Johan Camargo launched a three-run homer off Deivi García. They added two more thanks to a two-run double from Dustin Peterson. The IronPigs led 5-2 after five.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre tied the game in the top of the sixth. Tyler Wade plated a run with a single in his first game with the RailRiders since September 11. Michael Beltre followed suit with a two-run single to equalize the game at five.
BELTRE'S BOOMING! 🙌 It's a tie ballgame in Allentown.#RepBX #OffTheRails pic.twitter.com/PfudY2Wd3M
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) September 23, 2022
SWB loaded the bases in the seventh inning. Pinch-hitter Blake Perkins drew a walk after a long battle. The RailRiders led 6-5 before plating a run in the eighth on a Ben Rortvedt homer and an Estevan Florial RBI knock in the ninth for an 8-5 advantage. The IronPigs scored twice in the ninth for an 8-7 final.
RORTVEDT ROARS 🦁
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) September 23, 2022
Ben Rortvedt has solo blasts in back-to-back games against the @IronPigs. #RepBX #OffTheRails pic.twitter.com/HILcub4g6H
José Mujica (3-1) pitched 1.1 innings in relief and was given the victory. The loss was charged to Erik Miller (0-1). Luke Bard stranded the tying run at second base and locked down his second save. The first-place Durham Bulls won in a ten-inning walk-off on Thursday which means the RailRiders remain a game and a half back of the lone playoff spot with just six days left in the season.
Sean Boyle takes the ball on Friday night at 7:05 PM. The game can be heard with Adam Marco and Steve Granado on the call at 6:45 PM on the RailRiders Baseball Network.