Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Kevin Smith’s RBI single in the top of the ninth held up as a game-winner as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders held on to beat the Buffalo Bisons 4-3 on Saturday at Sahlen Field.
The RailRiders improved to 2-0 on the young season with the victory, with one more game in Buffalo scheduled for Sunday before the club heads back to PNC Field for Tuesday night’s home opener.
With the game tied 3-3 heading into the ninth inning, Bisons reliever Zach Pop retired the first two batters he faced before surrendering a walk to Jose Rojas.
Brandon Lockridge entered the game to pinch-run for Rojas, and got himself into scoring position by swiping second base.
Smith was up to bat next, and after looking at two called strikes, the RailRiders shortstop fouled off a sinker to stay alive before ripping a base hit into right field, bringing Lockridge around to score the go-ahead run.
Yerry De Los Santos, who had entered the game in relief for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the eighth inning, got the final three outs to earn the win.
Cody Poteet got the start for the RailRiders and looked sharp in his season debut, throwing four scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit, walked one and struck out five.
The game was scoreless through four innings, and the Bisons were able to strike first off RailRiders reliever Duane Underwood Jr. in the fifth, off back-to-back homers from Max McDowell and Will Robertson.
The RailRiders surged back in the seventh inning, tying the game on a two-run double from Rojas and taking a 3-2 lead after Rojas was driven in on a sacrifice fly.
The Bisons added one more homer, a game-tying solo shot from Nathan Lukes in the bottom of the eighth, setting the stage for the RailRiders to take the lead in the top of the ninth.
First pitch for Sunday’s finale between the RailRiders and the Bisons is set for 1:05 p.m. at Sahlen Field.