Spence Shines: RailRiders Drop Despite a Pair of Homers

BOX SCORE | SYR 5, SWB 4

Syracuse, NY (September 20) - The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders were walked-off by Syracuse Mets 5-4 on Thursday night. Jesus Bastidas and Aaron Palensky homered in the loss. Mitch Spence finished the season with his thirteenth quality start.

Blastidas 🚀

Jesus Bastidas sends his 11th homer of the season 418 ft. and 105.7 mph off the bat. #EverythingMajor #RepBX pic.twitter.com/Jgcq7gOvXo

— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) September 22, 2023

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre took an early lead in the top of the first. Wilmer Difo drew a walk and stole second to get into scoring positions. Andres Chaparro recorded his team-high 87th RBI of the season to send him home. An error allowed Chappy to cross for a 2-0 lead.

Syracuse swung back in front in the third. Wyatt Young led off with the frame a solo home run traveling 391-feet. An RBI single from Danny Mendick tied things up at two apiece. Jonathan Arauz pushed in another run for a 3-2 advantage.

The RailRiders made it 4-3 with back-to-back jacks in the sixth. Jesus Bastidas smoked one 418-feet into left center field. Aaron Palensky followed with his second in Triple-A in six games.

Palensky Pop ☄️

Aaron Palensky goes back-to-back with Jesús Bastidas for his second homer in Triple-A.#EverythingMajor #RepBX pic.twitter.com/WYFRhKvfdZ

— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) September 22, 2023

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Young began with a double to right. Joe Suozzi sent him home on an RBI single to tie things again at four. Arauz came up in the clutch with a run-scoring knock to walk-off the game for Syracuse.

Mitch Spence allowed just three runs in seven innings, striking out three. This put him at 29 starts in 163.0 innings and 153 total strikeouts, good for second in franchise history. Zach Greene *tossed a clean eighth. *Matt Bowman (L, 4-1) gave up the final two runs in the ninth.

Mitch Spence records his 151st strikeout this season, surpassing Brandon Duckworth ('01) for third most in a single season in SWB franchise history. 🌟#EverythingMajor #RepBX pic.twitter.com/LzuuNUpdKP

— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) September 22, 2023

Mike Vasil pitched four innings off two run ball, just one earned. He struck out eight. Hunter Parsons allowed two runs in his three frames. He struck out six. Anthony Kay (W, 5-1) followed with two scoreless.

The RailRiders take on the Mets Friday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Southpaw Edgar Barclay is slated for the start at 6:35 PM.