MOOSIC, PA (September 2, 2026) – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders defeated the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 9-2 Wednesday night at PNC Field. A four-run first inning and three home runs were enough for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitchers to hold the IronPigs at bay.
Lehigh Valley jumped out to an early lead against MLB Rehabber Clarke Schmidt. Otto Kemp and Kameron Misner hit consecutive singles before Keaton Anthony doubled home Kemp for a 1-0 edge.
The RailRiders responded in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs and sending all nine batters to the plate against IronPigs starter Casey Lawrence. After Jarred Kelenic singled and Anthony Volpe doubled, Jasson Domínguez, J.C. Escarra, and Marco Luciano all roped RBI singles, and Oswaldo Cabrera reached on an RBI force out to give SWB a 4-1 lead.
Yanquiel Fernández blasted his team-leading 23rd homer of the year in the bottom of the third. With one out and Max Schuemann on first, Fernández launched a sinker over the right-field wall to pull ahead five runs.
In the bottom of the fifth, Max Schuemann hammered a solo blast to left for a 7-1 cushion.
Lehigh Valley loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, but RailRiders pitcher Alexander Cornielle pitched out of the jam to escape the inning clean. Kemp homered in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit to five.
Fernández crushed his second two-run homer of the game in the bottom of the seventh, taking Lou Trivino III 428 feet to center field to give SWB a 9-2 advantage. Fernández was 3-for-4 with four RBI’s and two runs to lead SWB.
Over the last two games, RailRiders pitchers have held Lehigh Valley to two runs, while Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s offense has unloaded 28 hits, outscoring the IronPigs 25-2.
Schmidt allowed one run on three hits and three strikeouts, throwing 23 pitches, 20 for strikes, over 2.0 innings of work. Cornielle (5-3) tossed 5.0 innings, allowing one run on seven hits as the bulk arm to earn the win. Lawrence (1-1) pitched 4.1 frames, surrendering seven runs on 12 hits in the loss.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre continues its series with Lehigh Valley Thursday night at PNC Field. Yankees #28 Prospect Brendan Beck (9-2) will face Alan Rangel (3-7). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Tickets and promotional details are available at www.swbrailriders.com.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Record: 33-24, 70-61