The RailRiders had a great time on their two-week road trip in the South, winning 10 out of 12 games and moving to the top of the International League standings.
Once back home, Rochester didn't allow them to settle in.
The Red Wings surprised Scranton/Wilkes-Barre by scoring four runs in the first inning and went on to win 8-5 to start the series on Tuesday at PNC Field. This loss stopped the RailRiders’ six-game win streak from their sweep of Jacksonville.
RailRiders made a late rally and scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but they couldn't recover from the early disadvantage. Two errors on the same play led to two runs, and Travis Blankenhorn then hit a two-run homer.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre got two runs in the second inning due to Blankenhorn's errors and a Jeter Downs sac fly. Rochester extended their lead to 6-2 in the fourth inning before Caleb Durbin singled home a run for the RailRiders.
The Red Wings were leading 8-3 in the ninth inning when Durbin hit his second RBI single before scoring himself on a T.J. Rumfield double. Carlos Narvaez struck out, and Jose Rojas popped it up to end the game.
Starting pitcher Will Warren took the loss, giving up six earned runs on eight hits in three innings.
Durbin, Oscar Gonzalez, and Luis Gonzalez each had two hits for the RailRiders.
The series continues Wednesday with an 11:05 a.m. start in Moosic.
