RailRiders win in overtime, beat Buffalo in 11 innings

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders beat the Buffalo Bisons 8-3 in 11 innings on Saturday. JC Escarra had four hits and drove in the winning run in his RailRiders debut. The bullpen threw six hitless innings to quiet the Bisons.

The Bisons got off to a flying start in the first inning, scoring two runs. Gabriel Cancel reached on an error by Oswald Peraza, then two walks loaded the bases. Rafael Lantigua hit a two-run double to take the lead early.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre scored a run in the second inning. Escarra and Oscar Gonzalez singled back-to-back and Taylor Trammell walked to load the bases. Brandon Lockridge took advantage of a free pass to score a run.

Buffalo’s Michael Hiraldo had a walk-off hit in the fourth inning to make it 3-1.

Will Warren, the Yankees’ No. 7 prospect, led the team through five innings, allowing three runs, but only one earned. He struck out nine opponents.

The RailRiders cut the lead to one run in the sixth inning when Peraza scored on a wild pitch. He led off with a walk, then a single by Jeter Downs pushed him into scoring position, allowing him to cross the plate.

In the top of the eighth inning, SWB tied the game at three all. Peraza led off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. A sacrifice fly by Jeter Downs tied the score.

Once again, the bullpen kept the game under control. Art Warren and Yerry De Los Santos each pitched a scoreless inning. Alex Mauricio pitched a scoreless inning and a third. Anthony Misieiwcz (W, 3-2) finished the ninth inning strong.

Neither team could score a run in the tenth inning as Misiewicz left the phantom runner stranded with a pair of strikeouts.

The RailRiders shined in their first 11th inning of the season. TJ Rumfield started at second base and a sacrifice bunt by Downs moved him to third. Escarra recorded his fourth hit of the day with an RBI double for a 4-3 advantage. After Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, Trammell took over on a fielder’s choice.

Brandon Lockridge then hit the left-field hole to score two more. Jorbit Vivas was hit by a pitch to move up the field and advance the line. Back-to-back hits by Agustín Ramírez and Peraza made it 8-3.

Phil Bickford placed all three players first, second and third in the bottom half of the field to secure the team’s 50th win of the season.

The RailRiders will wrap up their series in Buffalo with a first pitch at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.