DURHAM WINS OVER RAILRIDERS 5-3

Parmelee Homers in Loss

Lail Tosses Fourth Straight Quality Start

Durham, N.C. – Three homers fueled four of five unanswered runs as the SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) fell to the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays) on Memorial Day Monday, 5-3. The RailRiders (29-22) lost for the first time on their road trip while the Bulls (21-31) reached five runs for just the second time in their last dozen games.

SWB scored all of its runs in the visiting fourth. Chris Parmelee smacked a two-run homer to right, tying him with Aaron Judge for the team lead at seven. Pete Kozma then doubled before Eddy Rodriguez singled him home for a 3-0 edge.

Starter Brady Lail maintained that lead through his six innings for a fourth straight quality start. The lone run against him came on a leadoff homer by Jake Goebbert in the sixth.

Jaff Decker’s sac fly drew Durham within a run in the seventh and in the eighth Nick Franklin’s leadoff homer off of Neal Cotts tied the game. Johnny Barbato entered from the bullpen and walked Richie Shaffer. After he struck out former SWB All-Star Kyle Roller, Barbato allowed a two-run homer to right against Dayron Varona, the outfielder’s team-leading sixth of the year, for the 5-3 margin that would go final.

Durham reliever Danny Farquhar (2-1) got the win, Dylan Floro logged his third save with a perfect ninth and Barbato (0-1) took the loss.

The series continues at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday with a battle of southpaws as SWB’s Phil Coke (3-0, 0.75) faces Blake Snell (2-4, 3.88). The RailRiders return home for an eight-game homestand on Thursday, June 2. It starts with the first of four against the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians) at 6:35 p.m. The Thirsty Thursday presented by Budweiser features $1 Bud Lights and Pepsi products. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

OFF THE RAILS:

SWB saw its scoreless-innings streak end at 27 in a row, one shy of the season-high mark set from April 12-14. That run included the team’s only other set of back-to-back shutout wins, at Pawtucket on April 13 and versus Syracuse on April 14 in 11 innings.

Chris Parmelee’s home run was his first off a left-handed pitcher since June 5, 2015 at Charlotte off of Jarrett Casey. The first baseman also singled and walked, going 2-for-3.

Over his last four starts, all quality, Brady Lail has a 1.88 ERA and a 2-1 record.

Nick Franklin’s game-tying homer was the first hit allowed by Neal Cotts as a RailRider.

Nick Swisher went 2-for-5 and both of his hits came as a right-handed hitter. The switch hitter has hit .462 as a right-handed batter versus a .165 mark as a left-handed batter.

2015 SWB All-Star Kyle Roller tripled on a 2-for-4 night in his first game against his former club.

The RailRiders stranded 10 men on base, five in scoring position, and went 1-for-7 with men at second and/or third.

SWB’s top three hitters, Ben Gamel, Aaron Judge and Donovan Solano went 0-for-13 with two walks and four strikeouts.

Over his last 13 games, Judge has gone 7-for-49 (.143) with no extra-base hits, three walks and 17 strikeouts.