SCRANTON WINS 9-0

SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE

RAILRIDERS

GAME REPORT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLIPPING COLUMBUS: BABY BOMBERS WIN 9-0

Kratz blasts long ball as part of a four-hit game as RailRiders take second straight

MOOSIC, Pa. (April 23, 2018) – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders erupted for 13 hits in a 9-0 victory over the Columbus Clippers on Monday night at PNC Field. Josh Rogers and Raynel Espinal combined to pitch the RailRiders shutout of the season.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre got on the board in the bottom of the second inning with a pair of round-trippers against Columbus starter Adam Plutko. Erik Kratz connected on a first-pitch fastball and sent it flying over the left field wall for the first run of the game. Two batters later, Ryan McBroom deposited a two-strike offering in almost the same spot to extend the lead to 2-0.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the third, culminating in a bases-loaded walk to Zack Zehner. Cody Asche led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run, extending the RailRiders lead to 4-0.

In the bottom of the sixth, the RailRiders broke the game open with a three-run rally. Shane Robinson drove a triple down the right field line to score Abiatal Avelino, and promptly was brought home by a Mike Ford RBI single. Two batters later, Zehner lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate Ford and give SWB a 7-0 advantage.

Josh Rogers (2-1) was terrific in his fourth start of the season for the RailRiders, scattering two hits in seven shutout innings. The southpaw struck out seven and did not allow a walk in his second quality start of the season.

The RailRiders tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth on a passed ball and a fielder’s choice groundout from Zehner to extend the gap to 9-0. Raynel Espinal worked two scoreless innings of relief to complete the shutout bid.

Four Scranton/Wilkes-Barre batters recorded multi-hit games, with Kratz leading the way with his 4-for-4 effort, including a home run, and a run batted in. Ford went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Despite going hitless, Zehner led the club with 3 RBIs.

The RailRiders continue their three-game series with the Columbus Clippers Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. For tickets and more information, slide to www.swbrailriders.com/tickets or call (570) 969-BALL.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Record:

9-8