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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s shot at winning The Final Stretch was likely lost last week. But the RailRiders still have a shot to finish the season strong.
The RailRiders opened their final series of the season on Wednesday with a 10-6 win at Rochester, jumping out to a commanding early lead and never trailing.
With the victory, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is now 3-3 in Triple-A’s postseason event for the 2021 campaign, which has all teams from the East and West leagues competing for the best record over a 10-game stretch.
Despite the win, the RailRiders remained three games off the lead with just four left to play. Triple-A East champion Durham won again on Wednesday to improve to 6-0 atop the Final Stretch standings.
The RailRiders made sure not to waste an early opportunity when they drew three walks to load the bases in the top of the first but were down to their last out when Ryan LaMarre hit a soft grounder.
Red Wings pitcher Cade Cavalli, however, had nowhere to go for an out and LaMarre’s single brought home a run. Greg Allen then came through on a full count, driving in two more runs with a single to right that chased Cavalli.
Max McDowell made it 4-0 with an RBI single of his own to close out the frame.
Rochester got a run back in the home half of the first, but the RailRiders broke the game open in the third.
Two singles and a walk loaded the bases once again with McDowell drawing a walk of his own for another RBI. Kyle Holder then cleared the bases with a double to right for an 8-1 advantage.
Even when the Red Wings answered with two runs apiece in the third and sixth to pull within 8-5, the RailRiders made sure it got no closer when Allen launched his fifth homer of the season, a two-run shot with two outs in the seventh.
Rochester threatened in the bottom of the seventh, drawing three walks against Greg Weissert to load the bases with two outs. But Nick Goody took over and got Rafael Bautista to fly out to center to keep the lead at 10-5.
The Red Wings managed to threaten in the bottom of the ninth, scoring a sixth run on a sac fly for the first out. But Nick Nelson induced a game-ending double play to close things out.
Matt Krook got the win on the mound, striking out seven in five innings of work. He allowed three hits and two walks, with all three runs against him unearned.
Oswaldo Cabrera reached base four times (two hits, two walks) and Allen finished with two hits and four RBIs to lead the RailRiders at the plate.
The series continues at 6:05 p.m. Thursday in Rochester, with the season set to end with a matinee on Sunday.