After a tough loss on Sunday and an off day Monday, the Adirondack Trail Blazers won a close game over the Victor RailRiders 4-3. 

The game started out as a pitcher’s duel between Luke Tomczyk and Aaron Hedgecock, as a total of only four hits were recorded through the first four innings of play. Hedgecock saw trouble in the second after a solo shot from Jack Zagaja gave the RailRiders a 1-0 lead. From there, Hedgecock shut down Victor, retiring the side 1-2-3 through the eighth inning. Victor woke up in the top of the ninth, picking up three straight hits by John Conti, Chris Lehane and Nathan Koslowski; Conti scored via Koslowski’s single. Hedgecock was then replaced by Jesse Slinger and Nick Russo hit an RBI single, scoring Lehane and bringing closing the gap to within one run. Slinger found the strike zone when it mattered and struck out three in a row, clinching the win for the Trail Blazers.

The Trail Blazers did not get the bats going until the bottom of the third inning. Kenny Collins and Paul Piccolino picked up singles and loaded the bases after a one-out walk to Nick Bernick. A wild pitch scored Bernick and advanced Collins and Piccolino. Justin Lebeck also walked to load the bases and Joe McHugh was hit in the shoulder to bring Collins home, giving the Blazers a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, Chuck Hooker hit a leadoff single and stole second. McHugh recorded another base hit which brought home Hooker, giving Adirondack a 3-1 lead. With McHugh at third after a single by Mark Venice, Brandon Orbe pulled the safety squeeze bunt, advancing Venice and scoring McHugh. After clutch pitching from Slinger, the Trail Blazers held onto the lead and won 4-3.

Tomczyk picked up his second loss. Hedgecock won his second game, and Slinger recorded his third save of the season.

No teams will be in action Wednesday due to the PGCBL all-star game, but Adirondack will return to home action against the Geneva Red Wings on Thursday. Victor is off Thursday, but travel to Geneva for a Friday night matchup. Victor claimed the season series 5-1.