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<p>MOOSIC &#8212; Wow.</p><p>Abiatal Avelino was down to his last strike.</p><p>The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders were down two runs and there were two men on for the second baseman.</p><p>The No. 9 hitter had nothing to show for in his first three at-bats. In fact, Avelino only got the ball out of the infield once. But then everything changed.</p><p>Facing a 3-2 count, Avelino fouled off a pitch from Syracuse reliever Christopher Smith.</p><p>Avelino had another chance, and this time he made the right-hander pay.</p><p>The second baseman went opposite field for his first home run of the season, a walk-off, three-run shot to deliver the RailRiders a 6-5 season-opening victory over the Chiefs.</p><p>&#8220;We waited a little long, but we got to the ninth and Avelino, he was starting to string some hits together which was really good,&#8221; RailRiders manager Bobby Mitchell said. &#8220;Avelino actually hits the ball really good the other way. I didn&#8217;t realize he had that much power the other way, though. It came at a great time for everybody. It was a great opener for us and a great opener for the fans, I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;</p><p>Neither Mitchell nor Avelino were sure if the second baseman had hit the ball out of the park or not. It didn&#8217;t help that it was raining and visibility wasn&#8217;t that great.</p><p>It wasn&#8217;t until Avelino stepped on third base and Mitchell told him it went over a fence that Avelino realized he had hit the game-winning home run. In fact, Mitchell was thinking of sending Avelino home for an inside-the-park home run until the first-base umpire signaled the round-tripper.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m ready every at-bat. The team, same thing. I&#8217;m trying to win every at-bat and that happened,&#8221; Avelino said. &#8220;I put in my mind, &#8216;OK, Avelino, you&#8217;re the man for the moment. So be ready, be ready, be ready&#8217; and that&#8217;s it.&#8221;</p><p>The RailRiders were down 5-1 heading into the final frame with little momentum, but in a span of seven batter the RailRiders would secure the victory.</p><p>Cody Asche led the inning off with a double to deep center and then a pair of one-out walks from Kyle Higashioka and Ryan McBroom loaded the bases for Billy Flemming. The RailRiders designated hitter made it a three-run game with a sacrifice fly to center that drove in Asche and moved Higashioka over to third. Then Zack Zehner continued to build the momentum with his second hit of the game, an RBI single up the middle, before setting the table for Avelino.</p><p>The RailRiders&#8217; ninth-inning surge softened the blow for Chance Adams, who gave up five runs, and four earned, on seven hits.</p><p>&#8220;It was an awesome comeback win. We were fighting until the end,&#8221; said the starting pitcher. &#8220;For (Avelino) to come off and hit that home run in that big spot, it was pretty cool to watch and I was really excited for him and everyone else.&#8221;</p><p>While Adams struggled early in his outing, giving up an RBI double to Irving Falu and three-run home run to Andrew Stevenson for a four-run second inning, he was able to rebound for a perfect third inning and pitched two-thirds of an inning in the fourth before he was pulled. The 23-year-old right-hander was able to strike out five.</p><p>&#8220;I felt all right. Just didn&#8217;t execute very well,&#8221; Adams said. &#8220;(My slider) was all right. I&#8217;d like it a little faster. It was a little down. On that homer, I was trying to get it for a strike and I should have buried it. Just one mistake.&#8221;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>RailRiders 6, Syracuse 5</strong></p><p><strong>Syracuse`AB`R`H`BI</strong></p><p>Robles cf`5`0`1`0</p><p>Stevenson lf`3`1`1`3</p><p>Marmolejos 1b`4`0`1`0</p><p>Sierra rf`4`0`1`0</p><p>De Aza dh`4`0`0`0</p><p>Dominguez 3b`4`0`0`0</p><p>Kieboom c`3`1`2`0</p><p>Sanchez ss`4`1`2`0</p><p>Falu 2b`4`2`2`1</p><p><strong>Totals`35`5`19`4</strong></p><p><strong>RailRiders`AB`R`H`BI</strong></p><p>Peterson cf`4`0`1`0</p><p>Torres`4`0`0`0</p><p>Asche 3b`4`1`1`0</p><p>Ford 1b`4`0`0`0</p><p>Higashioka c`2`2`1`1</p><p>McBroom rf`3`1`0`0</p><p>Fleming dh`2`0`0`0</p><p>Lehner lf`4`1`2`1</p><p>Avelino 2b`4`1`1`3</p><p><strong>Totals`31`6`6`6</strong></p><p>E: Higashioka (1); DP: Chiefs 0, RailRiders 2; LOB: Chiefs 6, RailRiders 4; 2B: Falu (1), Asche (1); HR: Stevenson (1), Higashioka (1), Avelino (1); SF: Fleming; SB: Robles.</p><p><strong>Syracuse`040`100`000 &#8212; 5</strong></p><p><strong>RailRiders`000`100`005 &#8212; 6</strong></p><p><strong>Visitor`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO</strong></p><p>Voth`5`3`1`1`1`6</p><p>Goforth`2`0`0`0`1`2</p><p>Torres`1`0`0`0`0`1</p><p>Collins`0.1`1`3`3`2`1</p><p>Smith (BS, 1)(L, 0-1)`0.1`2`2`2`0`0</p><p><strong>Home`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO</strong></p><p>Adams`3.2`7`5`4`2`5</p><p>Espinal`2.1`1`0`0`1`0</p><p>Perez`1`1`0`0`0`0</p><p>Coshow`1`1`0`0`0`2</p><p>Feyereisen (W, 1-0)`1`0`0`0`0`1</p><p>Umpires: Jeremy Riggs, HP; Jansen Visconti, 1B; Chris Graham, 2B; Travis Godec, 3B.</p><p>Time: 2:53; Att: 9,327.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">RailRiders starter Chance Adams throws a strike on the first pitch of the regular season against the Syracuse Chiefs at PNC Field in Moosic on Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040718RailRiders_5-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>RailRiders starter Chance Adams throws a strike on the first pitch of the regular season against the Syracuse Chiefs at PNC Field in Moosic on Friday night. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040718RailRiders_7-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">RailRiders center fielder Jace Peterson fields a ground ball up the middle against Syracuse at PNC Field in Moosic on Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040718RailRiders_7-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>RailRiders center fielder Jace Peterson fields a ground ball up the middle against Syracuse at PNC Field in Moosic on Friday night. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040718RailRiders_2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders pitcher Brady Lail, right, watches warm-ups from the dugout at PNC Field in Moosic before the season opener on Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040718RailRiders_2-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders pitcher Brady Lail, right, watches warm-ups from the dugout at PNC Field in Moosic before the season opener on Friday night. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040718RailRiders_6-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">RailRiders&#8217; first baseman Mike Ford, right, catches the throw as Syracuse&#8217;s Andrew Stevenson dives back to the bag at PNC Field in Moosic on Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040718RailRiders_6-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>RailRiders&#8217; first baseman Mike Ford, right, catches the throw as Syracuse&#8217;s Andrew Stevenson dives back to the bag at PNC Field in Moosic on Friday night. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040718RailRiders_3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Shortstop Gleyber Torres fist-bumps his RailRiders teammates during player introductions before the season opener at PNC Field in Moosic on Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_TTL040718RailRiders_3-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Shortstop Gleyber Torres fist-bumps his RailRiders teammates during player introductions before the season opener at PNC Field in Moosic on Friday. </caption4><photoCredit4>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Avelino hits walk-off to win opener</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 continue their three-game series with the Syracuse Chiefs on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.</p><p><strong>Probable Pitchers:</strong> SWB RHP Luis Cessa (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. SYR LHP Tommy Milone (0-0, 0.00 ERA)</p><p><strong>Today at PNC Field:</strong> Opening Weekend.</p><p><strong>Riding the Rails:</strong> Thursday&#8217;s starter Domingo German was called up from Double-A Trenton before his start.</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><strong>SYRACUSE SECOND: </strong>Spencer Kieboom singles up the middle. Adrian Sanchez singles up the middle, Kieboom to second. Irving Falu doubles to deep right, Kieboom scores, Sanchez to third. Andrew Stevenson homers to deep right, Sanchez and Falu score. <strong>SYRACUSE 4-0</strong> </p><p><strong>SYRACUSE FOURTH:</strong> Irving Falu singles to right. Victor Robles singles to left, Falu to third. With Stevenson batting, Robles steals second, Irving Falus scores. Missed catch error by shortstop Gleyber Torres. <strong>SYRACUSE 5-0</strong></p><p><strong>RAILRIDERS FIFTH: </strong>Kyle Higashioka homers to left. <strong>SYRACUSE 5-1</strong></p><p><strong>RAILRIDERS NINTH:</strong> Cody Asche doubles to center. Kyle Higashioka walks. Ryan McBroom walks, Asche to third, Higshioka to second. Billy Flemming hits a sacrific fly to center, Asche scores, Higashioka to third. Zack Zehner singles up the middle, Higashioka scores, McBroom to second. Abiatal Avelino homers to right, McBroom scores, Zehner scores. <strong>RAILRIDERS 6-5</strong></p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach DJ Eberle at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @ByDJEberle</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Abiatal Avelino’s walk-off home run delivers SWB RailRiders 6-5 win