RAILRIDERS SUFFER FOURTH STRAIGHT LOSS

Parmelee Homers, RailRiders Fall

SWB Suffers Fourth Straight Loss

Syracuse, N.Y. – Chris Parmelee launched his first home run, but a seven-spot a half-inning earlier doomed his SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) in a 9-4 loss to the Syracuse Chiefs (Washington Nationals) at NBT Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon. SWB (8-8) has lost four in a row. With a win on Sunday, Syracuse (8-8) can notch its first-ever sweep of SWB during the Yankees era in a series of three or more games. The Chiefs entered the series with losses in seven of nine.

SWB scored the game’s first run in the fourth inning. Gary Sanchez doubled to right-center, stole third with a shift on for Nick Swisher and scored when Swisher reached on a strikeout/passed ball. In the bottom half of the inning, Syracuse responded. Caleb Ramsey reached on a Swisher error that also allowed Jason Martinson to score from third. Jhonatan Solan then singled Ramsey home for a 2-1 SWB deficit.

In the eighth, Sanchez drove home Ben Gamel with a single for a brief 2-2 deadlock. Syracuse followed with a seven-spot in the home half including two-run doubles by Brian Goodwin and Kevin Keyes while Trea Turner bashed a three-run homer.

Parmelee launched his first home run with SWB in the ninth, a two-run shot to right that rounded out the scoring.

Syracuse reliever Erik Davis (2-0) got the win. SWB reliever Tyler Olson (0-1) suffered the loss.

The three-game series concludes at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday. Right-hander Tyler Cloyd (1-0, 0.57) faces lefty Aaron Laffey (1-0, 1.00).

The RailRiders return home for a three-game renewal of the IronRail Series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies) on Monday at 6:35 p.m. The $1 Monday promotion features $1 lawn seats (walk-up only), $1 hot dogs and canine dogs will be allowed entrance for just $1. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

OFF THE RAILS:

Ben Gamel went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored. He leads the team with six steals and lifted his season-long average to .300 in 15 games played. Over his last six games, Gamel has gone 9-for-22 (.409) with three steals and five runs scored.

Gary Sanchez went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a steal and a run scored. His swipe of third base made for the second on his Triple-A career. The prior theft came on July 23, 2015 at Indianapolis. He has gone 31-for-42 in stolen-base tries on his pro career.

Nine of Sanchez’s 13 hits on the young year have gone for extra bases: six doubles, one triple, two homers.

Aaron Judge finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts to snap an eight-game hitting streak. It marked just his second hitless outing of the season in 15 games played.

The RailRiders have lost four in a row for the first time since dropping four in a row from July 8-11, 2015. That run started with a pair of losses to Syracuse and concluded with successive setbacks at Buffalo. This current four-game skid began with two home losses to Buffalo, and continued with a road setback at Syracuse.

On Sunday, the RailRiders will look to avoid the franchise’s first five-game slide since a six-game skid from June 25-July 1, 2015. That run started with a record-setting home loss to Louisville, 15-2.