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MOOSIC — It took the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders offense a little time to get going Friday night against the Syracuse Chiefs.
Syracuse righty Kyle McGowin had Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s number through the first two innings, striking out four and only allowing three RailRiders (14-12) to reach base. But then, little by little, the RailRiders started to get to the 25-year-old starter, bouncing him from the game in the middle of a five-run fourth inning, which was the difference as the RailRiders went on to win 10-2 to take the series opener from Syracuse (9-12).
“It’s going to happen. You’re going to have a quick start where you score early or it’s going to be a decent start where you have four or five innings where you don’t do anything,” Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders manager Al Pedrique said. “For me, as long as we stay in the game and we don’t give at-bats away, we’re going to be fine. I think that’s what we did tonight.”
McGowin was impressive to start the game for Syracuse.
Striking out two of the first four Scranton/Wilkes-Barre batters, McGowin was able to escape a one-out single off of the bat of Clint Frazier for an easy first inning. He found similar success in the second, striking out a pair of RailRiders to sandwich a Mason Williams line out, Cito Culver walk and Mark Payton single to right field. By striking out RailRiders catcher Wilkin Castillo, McGowin was able to get out of a two-out, second and third jam.
However, as the RailRiders went through the batting order a second time, they were immediately able to get after McGowin.
A sacrifice fly to left field off Frazier’s bat got the RailRiders on the board in the third, cutting the deficit to 2-1, before erupting for five runs in the second inning. Culver and Payton each had an RBI double to start the scoring before Ji-Man Choi’s three-run double to deep left field broke the game open.
“Obviously, the first time you see a guy, especially in the season, it’s a little different and it’s tougher on the hitters. The pitchers always have the advantage that way,” said Payton, who went 3 for 4 and hit his first home run of the season. “The more you see a pitcher and the more pitches you see, you just pay attention to the game. You pick two or three hitters that are similar to yourself and you just pay attention to that guy and can take up that plan to the at-bat.”
Choi’s three-run double was an encouraging sign for the first baseman.
After sitting out each of the last two games with a wrist injury suffered before Tuesday’s game in Lehigh Valley, Choi came back to the starting lineup with a bang. The 25-year-old was 2 for 3 with a double and 4 RBI.
“He came in early today and got treatment, hit in the cage and felt fine, and he had two good at-bats for us,” Pedrique said. “That’s a guy we’re going to need in the middle of the order — him, (Ruben) Tejada, (Dustin) Fowler, Frazier. Frazier’s been swinging the bat well. If we have those four guys going, we’re going to score a lot of runs.”
The RailRiders got another strong outing from starting pitcher Caleb Smith.
Unlike McGowin, Smith got better as the game went on. The righty recovered from a rough third inning, which saw an RBI single off the bat of Chiefs center fielder Brian Goodwin and a Matt Skole sacrifice fly gave Syracuse a 2-0 lead, to sit down the final 11 batters he faced. Skole’s sac fly started the run of outs by Smith.
Earning the win, Smith went six strong innings, giving up just two runs on three hits. He struck out seven Syracuse batters.
“I liked the life from his fastball today,” Pedrique said. “Had good command of his fastball, threw some good breaking balls and the key for him was to work ahead and elevate the pitches.”
Higashioka optioned to SWB
With Gary Sanchez activated off of the 10-day DL ahead of Friday’s game against the Chicago Cubs, backup catcher Kyle Higashioka was transferred to the RailRiders. He has three days to report.
When Higashioka does rejoin the team, the RailRiders will need to make a move to clear a roster spot.
Up next
The RailRiders and Chiefs square off again Saturday at 4:05 p.m., in the second game of a three-game set.
RailRiders 10, Syracuse 2
Syracuse`AB`R`H`BI
Stevenson lf`4`1`1`0
Goodwin cf`4`0`1`1
Skole 3b`3`0`0`1
Snyder rf`4`0`0`0
Robinson 1b`3`0`0`0
Severino c`3`0`0`0
Green 2b`3`0`1`0
Joseph dh`3`0`0`0
Sanchez ss`3`1`1`0
Totals`30`2`4`2
RailRiders`AB`R`H`BI
Wade 2b`5`2`2`0
Fowler cf`5`2`2`0
Frazier dh`2`1`2`2
Choi 1b`3`0`2`4
Tejada ss`5`0`0`0
Williams lf`5`1`1`0
Culver 3b`3`1`1`1
Payton rf`4`2`3`2
Castillo c`3`1`0`0
Totals`35`10`13`9
Syracuse`002`000`000`—`2`4`2
RailRiders`001`502`11X`—`10`13`0
E: Stevenson (1), Goodwin (1). LOB: Chiefs 4, RailRiders 8. 2B: Goodwin (4), Culver (4), Payton (6),, Choi (5), Wade (3). 3: Fowler (4). HR: Payton (1). SF: Fazier, Choi. SB: Payton (2).
Syracuse`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
McGowin (L, 0-2)`3.2`7`6`6`3`4
Antolin`2.1`3`2`1`1`1
Cotts`1.0`1`1`1`0`0
Gott`1.0`2`1`1`1`2
RailRiders`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Smith (W, 1-0)`6.0`3`2`2`0`7
Heller`1.2`1`0`0`1`4
Gurka`0.1`0`0`0`0`0
Frieri`1.0`0`0`0`0`0
WP: McGowin.
HBP: Robinson (Smith).
Umpires: Beck, HP; Additon, 1B;Roberto Ortiz, 2B; Jeremie Rehak, 3B.
T: 2:51. Att: 4,443.
