Buffalo hits five home runs in 9-4 win over RailRiders

The spark never fully ignited during a ninth-inning RailRiders rally. Despite loading the bases in a last-ditch effort, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre fell short in a 9-4 loss to Buffalo on Thursday at PNC Field.

It was a wire-to-wire victory for the Bisons, who scored two runs in the top of the first and led the rest of the game, leading 6-0 before the RailRiders got on the board in the fifth inning.

Buffalo got the start against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starter Tanner Tully, who allowed four hits in four innings – all four hits leaving the park for home runs. Steward Berroa and Damiano Palmegiani each hit solo home runs in the first. Brian Serven added a two-run shot in the fourth, followed by Cam Eden with another home run.

Riley Tirotta’s RBI double made it 6-0 before the RailRiders got one back on Jose Rojas’ 14th home run of the season in the middle of the fifth.

Palmegiani added the dagger with his second homer of the night, a three-run shot, in the seventh, making it 9-1.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre responded with three runs in the same inning. Taylor Trammell homered, Oswald Peraza hit an RBI single and Jorbit Vivas scored on a wild pitch, although Peraza was thrown out at second in the game to end the threat.

The RailRiders put up three in the ninth but couldn’t get any closer. Brandon Lockridge and Peraza had two hits each.

The series continues at 6:35 p.m. Friday in Moosic.