TIDES TAKE FINALE, 3-2

Tides Take Finale, 2-1

RailRiders Settle for Series Split

Norfolk, Va. – The SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) were held to one hit by three Norfolk pitchers and dropped a 2-1 contest to the host Tides (Baltimore Orioles) at Harbor Park on Thursday afternoon. The RailRiders (65-39) settled for a series split on the four-gamer, but took the season set from the Tides (46-59), 4-3.

Norfolk plated the game’s first run in the fifth. Former SWB and New York Yankee Chris Dickerson drew a leadoff walk, took third on Chris Johnson’s single and scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Pedro Alvarez.

Miguel Andujar logged SWB’s only hit and scored its lone run in the seventh. He connected on a leadoff single and took second on the play due to an errant bobble by Dickerson in left. Billy McKinney dropped down a successful sac bunt and Cito Culver pushed Andujar home with a sac fly deep to right in foul ground.

Alvarez launched the decisive blow to right-center off of reliever Joe Mantiply (4-4) to begin the eighth, his team-leading 22^nd homer.

SWB starter Byran Mitchell recorded his fourth straight quality start at Triple-A (6IP, 7H, 1R, 3BB, 7K, 1WP, 95P/63S).

Norfolk starter Mike Wright, in his first non-rehab/Rookie action since June 14, threw three no-hit innings with six strikeouts and one walk. Lefty Chris Lee followed with four frames of one-hit ball, allowing one unearned run, three walks and whiffing two. Jimmy Yacabonis (3-0) concluded with two innings. He walked one and struck out three.

The RailRiders’ road trip shifts to Charlotte for a three-game series against the Knights (Chicago White Sox). It starts at 7:05 p.m. on Friday night as right-hander Brady Lail (5-4, 5.12) gets a rematch nod against Tyler Danish (3-9, 4.42). The two dueled at PNC Field on Sunday.

The RailRiders return home on Tuesday, Aug. 1 to open a six-game homestand. It starts with the first of three against the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) at 7:05 p.m. The Two Dollar Tuesday presented by La Tolteca means $2 lawn tickets and $2 tallboys every Tuesday during the 2017 season. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

OFF THE RAILS:

Miguel Andujar went 1-for-4 and scored SWB’s only run. He has hit safely in 13 straight games, lifting his Triple-A average by 69 points from .255-.324. His 67 overall RBIs between Double-A and Triple-A lead the Yankees’ farm.

SWB hurlers posted 11 more strikeouts on Thursday. The staff recorded 50 strikeouts on the four-game series.

Norfolk went 0-for-8 with men in scoring position, stranding eight. On the series, the Tides went 5-for-45 (.111) with men in prime real estate, leaving 37 aboard.