Surging: SWB tops Charlotte 6-3 in Vasquez's first Triple-A win

CHARLOTTE, NC (May 17, 2023) – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders beat the Charlotte Knights 6-3 Wednesday night at Truist Field. Randy Vasquez pitched five shutout innings for his first Triple-A victory and the offense hit three more home runs to pick up the RailRiders second straight win.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre opened the scoring in the top of the third against Charlotte starter Luke Farrell. Billy McKinney singled and moved to second on a walk by Jamie Westbrook. After a groundout to the right side moved both runners to scoring position, a wild pitch by Farrell plated McKinney for a 1-0 advantage.

Rodolfo Duran extended that lead in the fourth inning with his third home run of the series. The RailRiders designated hitter hit two out on Tuesday in a 14-5 win. His seventh of the season gave Scranton/Wilkes-Barre a 2-0 edge, taking a 1-1 pitch from reliever Sammy Peralta 368 feet to left.

Randy Vasquez held the Knights in check with the five scoreless frames, allowing only a pair of hits in the fourth while striking out five and walking three.

Rockin' with Randy 🤘

5.0 IP // 2 H // 0 R // 3 BB // 5 K // 0 HR // 4.85 ERA#EverythingMajor #RepBX pic.twitter.com/oThABc9EOa

— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) May 18, 2023

Former RailRiders and Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier broke up the shutout bid with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, but Scranton/Wilkes-Barre got that back and then some in their half of the eighth. Pinch hitter Wilmer Difo walked to start the inning. Ben Rortvedt hit a 1-2 pitch from Nick Padilla to the right field seats to push the lead to three runs. Andres Chaparro followed with a home run to left for a 5-2 lead, marking the second straight game that the RailRiders hit back-to-back home runs.

Adios, Andrés! 👋

It's a solo blast for Andrés Chaparro! #EverythingMajor #RepBX pic.twitter.com/1xPCyx47dE

— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) May 18, 2023

Lenyn Sosa hit a solo home run in the eighth, but Scranton/Wilkes-Barre worked a pair of walks in the top of the ninth and Rortvedt singled in Estevan Florial for a 6-2 edge.

Charlotte loaded the bases without a hit in the bottom of the ninth and scored once on a bases-loaded walk. Aaron McGarity recorded the final out, striking out Sosa with the bases loaded.

Vasquez (1-5) notched his first win in his ninth start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre while the save was McGarity’s first of the year. Farrell (0-3) took the loss after allowing the first two runs of the game.

Through two games this week, the RailRiders have hit nine home runs.

Will Warren will make his Triple-A debut on Wednesday as the RailRiders and Knights meet for a 7::04 P.M. first pitch. Warren, the number seven prospect in the New York Yankees system per MLB Pipeline, went 3-0 for Somerset over six starts prior to his promotion. Charlotte counters with Sean Burke, the fifth-best prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization.