The RailRiders faced a late scare to their comfortable lead on Thursday night. They reacted like the team with the top record in the International League.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre promptly responded to a seventh-inning comeback by Lehigh Valley and pulled ahead for an 8-4 win over the IronPigs at PNC Field. It marked the RailRiders’ ninth win in the last 10 games and maintained their position at the top of the league standings with a 12-5 record.
Everson Pereira was a driving force in the offense, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI. He widened the lead in the third inning after an RBI double by Caleb Durbin, hitting a three-run homer to center for a 4-0 advantage.
Josh VanMeter extended the lead to 6-0 with a two-run double in the sixth.
When the IronPigs narrowed the gap with four runs in the top of the seventh, Pereira responded with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning to regain momentum. Luis Gonzalez drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth, making it 8-4.
Starter Will Warren excelled in the victory, pitching six scoreless innings, conceding only two hits and a walk while striking out seven.
The six-game series continues Friday in Moosic with a 6:35 p.m. start.
