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Deficit-ridden Pennsylvania may face another credit downgrade

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Slots revenue dropped last year at Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos

<p>MOOSIC &#8212; Twice the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre bats faced two-strike counts down by a run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Thursday, and both times they delivered.</p><p>RailRiders designated hitter Jake Cave battled back from a 1-2 count to get it full and lace a double into the left-center field gap. A batter later, RailRiders center fielder Mark Payton fought off an 0-2 count, got it to 2-2 and floated an RBI single into shallow center field to tie the game and force extra innings for the second time in four games.</p><p>Two innings later, facing another one-run deficit, RailRiders third baseman Miguel Andujar was facing in a similar spot. The bases were loaded with one out. Another two-strike count.</p><p>Standing at the plate with a 1-2 count, looking for his first hit of the game, Andujar delivered. The 22-year-old singled back up the middle allowing Jonathan Diaz and Cave to score, winning the game 4-3 over the Bisons (37-50).</p><p>&#8220;This team doesn&#8217;t quit,&#8221; RailRiders manager Al Pedrique said. &#8220;We came back twice. It was nice to win the game. Especially Andujar, he&#8217;s been trying really hard to get one hit and he got the chance to get a big one. It was a great team effort.&#8221;</p><p>Celebrating on the infield grass, Thursday&#8217;s win held similarities to Monday&#8217;s five-run comeback in Pawtucket, a game RailRiders catcher Eddy Rodriguez called the team&#8217;s best victory over the season on Tuesday.</p><p>Even with all of the RailRiders&#8217; moves of late &#8212; the team has gone 13 straight days with a roster move &#8212; and a fluctuating lineup, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (54-32) continues to surge up the International League North Division standings. Holding a first-place lead for the second straight day, the RailRiders, at the very least, keep pace with the Durham Bulls, who like Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had 53 wins heading into Thursday.</p><p>The RailRiders extended their winning streak to five games and will be in first place over Lehigh Valley when they host the IronPigs in a three-game series that opens Friday night.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a lot of fun to be a part of,&#8221; Payton said. &#8220;We&#8217;re scrappy. We lost a lot of key parts to this team. We brought new guys in that we know are going to give us quality time out there. We&#8217;re still a team, we know we can compete and go out there and have a chance to win every day.&#8221;</p><p>On a day that featured a pitching duel between Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lefty Dietrich Enns and Bisons lefty Cesar Valdez, Enns was able to keep the RailRiders in the game while the offense got off to a slow start.</p><p>After a rough first inning, having trouble with his command and giving up a run on a one-out double off the bat of Bisons left fielder Dalton Pompey, Enns was able to change course in the top of the second.</p><p>With two outs and Bisons catcher Mike Ohlman standing on first after a single to center, Enns struck out Buffalo center fielder Roemon Fields to a 1-2 count. He threw a pitch down and away from the left-handed Fields, getting the 26-year-old outfielder to swing and miss at the pitch in the dirt.</p><p>From there on Enns looked like a different pitcher. A Jake Elmore line out in the at-bat started a string of eight straight retired batters.</p><p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what we like to see from the pitchers. Once you have one or two bad innings, figure out a way to make some adjustments and keep the team in the game, and that&#8217;s what he did,&#8221; Pedrique said. &#8220;I think in the first inning he was up in the zone a little bit, rushing his delivery a little bit, maybe. After that, he used both sides of the plate, kept the ball down and he did a great job.&#8221;</p><p>Enns was impressive in his second start back from a shoulder injury. The 25-year-old left-hander went six innings for the first time in a RailRiders uniform since April 9. He allowed just the one run on five hits and a walk while striking out four to earn the no decision.</p><p>&#8220;This is big to have Dietrich back,&#8221; Cave said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve played with Dietrich for the past couple years, and what you saw today is what you get out of him. He&#8217;s going to throw strikes, he has a good pace, he&#8217;ll get some swing and miss, but for the most part he lets the defense work, and we have a really good defense. That&#8217;s a plus.&#8221;</p><p>The RailRiders had an offensive surge from the middle of their lineup.</p><p>Mike Ford and Bill McKinney both collected three hits while Andujar had the game-winning two-run single. However, Ford left the game after the seventh inning.</p><p>The first baseman injured his hamstring after sliding late into second base during the inning and will be re-evaluated Friday to determine his immediate future.</p><p>&#8220;Right now we&#8217;re hoping he won&#8217;t be a DL candidate, but it&#8217;s pretty tight right now,&#8221; Pedrique said.</p><p><ins>For other RailRiders stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/sports" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>RailRiders 4, Buffalo 3</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>11 innings</strong></p><p><strong>Buffalo`AB`R`H`BI</strong></p><p>Berti 2b`4`0`0`0</p><p>Saunders dh`4`1`0`0</p><p>Pompey lf`4`0`1`1</p><p>Parmley ph-lf`1`0`1`0</p><p>Leblebijian 1b`5`0`2`0</p><p>D. Smith rf`5`1`1`0</p><p>Petit ss`5`1`2`1</p><p>Ohlman c`5`0`1`0</p><p>Elmore 3b`4`0`1`0</p><p>Fields cf`5`0`2`1</p><p><strong>Totals`42`3`11`3</strong></p><p><strong>RailRiders`AB`R`H`BI</strong></p><p>Cave dh`6`2`2`0</p><p>Payton cf`4`0`1`1</p><p>Andujar 3b`6`0`1`2</p><p>Ford 1b`4`1`3`0</p><p>Avelino ss`1`0`1`0</p><p>McKinney rf`5`0`3`0</p><p>Culver ss-1b`5`0`0`0</p><p>Bolasky lf`5`0`0`0</p><p>Castillo c`4`0`0`0</p><p>Diaz 2b`5`1`3`0</p><p><strong>Totals`45`4`13`3</strong></p><p><strong>Buffalo`100`000`100`01&#8212;`3</strong></p><p><strong>RailRiders`000`000`011`02&#8212;`4</strong></p><p>E: D. Smith (2); DP: Bisons 1, RailRiders 2; LOB: Bisons 9, RailRiders 13; 2B: Pompey (1), D. Smith (12), Cave (4); SB: Petit (1), Fields (20), Avelino (3).</p><p><strong>Buffalo`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO</strong></p><p>Valdez`7.0`7`0`0`1`3</p><p>Dermody (H, 6)`1.0`1`1`0`0`1</p><p>C. Smith (BS, 3)`1.0`2`1`1`0`1</p><p>Howell`1.0`1`0`0`0`1</p><p>M. Smith (BS, 2)(L, 2-2)`0.1`2`2`1`1`1</p><p><strong>RailRiders`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO</strong></p><p>Enns`6.0`5`1`1`1`4</p><p>Holder`1.0`2`1`1`1`2</p><p>Heller`2.0`0`0`0`0`3</p><p>Mantiply (W, 4-3)`2.0`4`1`1`1`2</p><p>IBB: Payton (by M. Smith)</p><p>HBP: Payton (by Valdez)</p><p>Umpires: Charlie Ramos, HP; Jansen Visconti, 1B; James Rackley, 3B;</p><p>Time: 3:20; Att.: 4,947.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Billy McKinney is out as he slides into second base Thursday against Buffalo. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_rr_bb1_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Billy McKinney is out as he slides into second base Thursday against Buffalo. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_rr_bb3_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders right fielder Billy McKinney steps back to first base as Buffalo Bisons starter Cesar Valdez throws over during the second inning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_rr_bb3_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders right fielder Billy McKinney steps back to first base as Buffalo Bisons starter Cesar Valdez throws over during the second inning. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_rr_bb5_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders left-hander Dietrich Enns delivers a pitch Thursday against Buffalo. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_rr_bb5_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders left-hander Dietrich Enns delivers a pitch Thursday against Buffalo. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_rr_bb4_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders designated hitter Jake Cave races to first base during Thursday&#8217;s third inning against the Buffalo Bisons at PNC Field. He was safe on a wild throw. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_rr_bb4_faa.jpg</photo3><caption3>Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders designated hitter Jake Cave races to first base during Thursday&#8217;s third inning against the Buffalo Bisons at PNC Field. He was safe on a wild throw. </caption3><photoCredit3>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_rr_bb2_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders center fielder Mark Payton catches a fly ball Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_rr_bb2_faa.jpg</photo4><caption4>Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders center fielder Mark Payton catches a fly ball Thursday. </caption4><photoCredit4>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>RailRiders rally twice to beat Buffalo</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By DJ Eberle</p><p>djeberle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>T.L. EXPRESS</strong></p><p><strong>Today&#8217;s Game:</strong> The RailRiders open a four-game series with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.</p><p><strong>Probable Pitchers:</strong> RHP Chance Adams (6-2, 2.39 ERA) vs. LHP Brandon Leibrandt (1-0, 2.45)</p><p><strong>Today at PNC Field:</strong> The Legend Series continues, this time featuring former Major League pitcher and RailRiders co-owner Andy Ashby. The first 2,500 fans will receive an Andy Ashby bobblehead. It&#8217;s also Girl Scouts Night and Glow in the Park Friday and there will be postgame fireworks.</p><p><strong>Riding the Rails:</strong> OF Mason Williams has been outrighted to SWB.</p><p><strong>On Radio:</strong> All RailRiders games can be heard live on NEPA Sports Radio - The Game.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>HOW THEY SCORED</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>BUFFALO FIRST: </strong>Jon Berti works a walk. Michael Saunders hits a ground ball to third base, Berti out at second, Saunders safe at first. Dalton Pompey doubles to a deep right center, Saunders scores. <strong>BUFFALO 1-0</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>BUFFALO SEVENTH: </strong>Gregorio Petit singles to center. With Jake Elmore batting, Petit steals second. Elmore works a walk. Roemon Fields singles to center, Petit scores and Elmore to third. <span style=""><strong>BUFFALO 2-0</strong></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style=""><strong>RAILRIDERS EIGHTH: </strong>Mike Ford singles to right, advances to second on a fielding error by Buffalo RF Dwight Smith Jr. Billy McKinney hits a ground ball to second, McKinney reaches first and advances to second on a throwing error by Buffalo 2B Jon Berti, Ford scores. <span id="><strong>BUFFALO 2-1</strong></span></span></p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach DJ Eberle at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @ByDJEberle</p></shirttailMeta></div>

SWB RailRiders rally twice to beat Buffalo Bisons 4-3 in 11 innings