Tuesday, May 3, 2016

RAILRIDERS WIN 5-2

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Sanchez Homers, Green Wins
RailRiders Snap Three-Game Slide, Force Wednesday Rubber Match

Buffalo, N.Y.Gary Sanchez hammered a home run and starter Chad Green posted a long overdue win as the SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) snapped a three-game losing skid with a 5-2 defeat of the host Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) on Tuesday night. The RailRiders (13-13) shot back to .500 on the year while the Bisons (11-14) dropped to 3-6 at home.

Green entered the game 0-3 in five starts despite boasting the IL’s fifth-best ERA. He was the only man among the circuit’s top 21 in ERA that had yet to log a win. Green (1-3) got that victory with six innings of one-run ball. He gave up four hits, all singles, two on the infield, and faced two over the minimum while whiffing two and walking one.

The RailRiders grabbed the early advantage thanks to Sanchez’s hitting prowess against starter Roberto Hernandez (0-1). The catcher roped an RBI double in the first inning and hammered an impressive two-run home run to left in the third.

SWB lengthened its lead to 5-1 in the seventh on a Johnathan Diaz bases-loaded walk and a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Ben Gamel in concert with a David Adams fielding error.

Tyler Olson tossed two innings of scoreless, one-hit relief and Conor Mullee allowed a score in the ninth on a Casey Kotchman double.

The three-game series concludes at 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday. SWB is scheduled to toss Kyle Haynes (1-0, 3.29) against fellow right-hander Arnold Leon (0-0, 2.25).

The RailRiders return home for a nine-game homestand on Saturday, May 7. It starts with a two-game renewal of the IronRail Series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies). The first 1,000 kids in attendance will receive a CHAMP bank courtesy of the Times Leader. It will also be Fit Track Day, a community outreach initiative that helps promote physical activity, healthy eating choices and a good night’s rest for kids. Participating children from area schools will be recognized on the field for their Fit Track efforts. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

OFF THE RAILS:
Rob Refsnyder started in right field for the first time since July 29, 2014. He made an impressive grab of a Jon Berti line drive for an out in the sixth and went 2-for-4, extending his hitting streak to eight games. His streak has lifted his average by 57 points (.190-.247) and he has gone 9-for-22 (.409) on the road trip. No RailRider has a hitting streak longer than eight thus far on the year.

Three of Chad Green’s last four starts have been quality with only one earned run allowed in those quality nods.

Pete Kozma filled in as the two-hole hitter as Aaron Judge got a night off. Kozma went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs scored.

Deibinson Romero played for the first time since April 8 versus Rochester. He started at third base and went 0-for-3 with a walk. He came off the DL before Monday’s series opener.

Gary Sanchez’s league-best ninth double and team tri-leading third home run brought his extra-base hit total to 13 among his 19 hits. He now leads the team with 14 RBIs.

Ben Gamel took a tough 0-for-5 with five hard-hit outs including three line drives to the outfield, one of which required a headlong dive by Domonic Brown in right.

Buffalo has just one series win on the season when it took three of four at PNC Field April 18-21. Wednesday will be a rubber match on this three-game set.

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