SWB RAILRIDERS: End of an era for franchise’s nickname

By admin — In News — September 21, 2026

   ​MOOSIC — Edinson Duran became the unlikely answer to a trivia question.Sunday’s season finale between the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at PNC Field was canceled due to rain and wet grounds. That meant Saturday night’s game was the last one featuring the RailRiders nickname. The team is rebranding and expected to announce the new identity in November.So when people ask who was the winning pitcher in the final game of the RailRiders era, it isn’t a top prospect like Elmer Rodriguez or an ace like Brendan Beck. It is Duran, a catcher who spent more time on the development list this season than the active roster.Whenever the RailRiders would need to use a position player to save arms in the bullpen, they would go to Duran. He’s done it eight times in the past two seasons, including six this season.In the top of the 10th inning Saturday night, Justin Topa struck out the first two batters with the automatic runner on second base. However, with the count 2-1 to Logan Driscoll, Topa reached his pitch limit. With no other options, manager Shelley Duncan called upon Duran. The 24-year old from Venezuela walked Driscoll, then walked Gage Miller to load the bases, but got Johnny Olmstead to fly out to center fielder Duke Ellis to end the inning. The RailRiders won in the bottom of the 10th, 6-5, when automatic runner Yanquiel Fernandez scored from third base on a wild pitch, making Duran the winning pitcher.“It was really exciting for Duran to come in and do what he did,” RailRiders reliever Eric Reyzelman said. “It’s fun, kind of reminds you why you play this game. Technically, we had nothing on the line playoff-wise. But we did not want to leave this place without a win.”And so the RailRiders’ final ride has pulled into the station. The team finished 78-68 overall (37-37 first half, 41-31 second half). Its all-time record wound up 1,028 wins and 834 losses.From the first pitch by Vidal Nuño to Pawtucket’s Brock Holt on April 4, 2013, to the last one Saturday night — Jacksonville’s Stephen Jones’ wild pitch with Kenedy Corona batting — a lot of memorable moments happened in between.Six times the RailRiders made the playoffs. Three times they lost in the International League championship series (2017, 2018, 2025). But in 2016, they defeated the Gwinnett Braves in four games to capture the IL title, then beat the Pacific Coast League champion El Paso Chihuahuas to claim the Triple-A national championship.Many notable players have worn a RailRiders uniform.Hall of Famer Derek Jeter spent seven games on a rehab assignment in early July 2013 while recovering from a broken ankle. During his time here, it became a daily game to see where he was spotted in downtown Scranton.Later that month, Alex Rodriguez played three games here while coming back from offseason hip surgery. He hit a two-run home run in the second at-bat of his first game.Curtis Granderson and D.J. LeMahieu were other notable Yankee  

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