After splitting the opening series of the 2014 season the Staten Island Yankees looked to start off strong in the opening game of a three-game against the Aberdeen Ironbirds. It looked like the Baby Bombers were about to be handed their third loss of the season when in the ninth inning they came back to take the game.
Aberdeen was the first to score in the contest, plating a run in the top of the third inning off of Yankees starter Dillon McNamara. McNamara, the Staten Island native, was making his first start of the season after spending last year working out of the bullpen. He went three and a third allowing just a run on four hits and a walk while striking out four batters in the contest.
The Baby Bombers tied the game up at one in their half of the third inning when Bubba Jones reached on a fielding error, moved to third on a ground out and then came one on a line drive single to right by Austin Aune. Aune would also steal a base in that inning.
Rony Bautista then made his Staten Island debut, relieving McNamra in the fourth inning. The young left-hander is just one of two lefties in the SI Yanks bullpen. Bautista pitched well, allowing a run on a hit and two walks in his three and a third innings of work. He also struck out four batters. Travis Hissong followed him, pitching a single inning in his professional debut. Hissong gave up an unearned run on three hits while striking out two batters. Next on the hill for Staten Island was the returning Andury Acevedo. Acevedo earned the win for the Baby Bombers allowing just a hit and a walk in an inning and a third while striking out three. For the fourth consecutive game the Baby Bombers struck out double-digit opponents which puts them atop of the NY-Penn League with 58 combined strike outs as a team.
In the eighth inning, down 3-1, the Baby Bombers would bring the game to within one run. Jake Anderson reached first thanks to a throwing error by the Aberdeen first baseman. After two consecutive ground outs, Anderson found himself just 90-feet away from home. It was then that Aberdeen would make a pitching change and the new pitcher would then throw a wild pitch. Anderson took off on the wild pitch and scored to cut the Ironbird lead to just one run.
It was in the bottom of the ninth that the Staten Island Yankees brought out the heroics. Ty McFarland started if off with a fly ball single to right. Thairo Estrada would then try to lay down a sacrifice bunt but the third baseman could not make the throw, allowing McFarland to move to third and Estrada to reach second base. Next to the plate was Nathan Mikolas and he came through big time. Mikolas hit a line drive single to center field to plate both the tying and winning runs and give the Baby Bombers their second consecutive victory.
In what seems to be an unusual occurrence for the Staten Island Yankees, they did not work a walk at all in the game. However the team still remains the top team in the league in regards to walks as the Baby Bombers have worked 26 walks so far this season. “Strike zone discipline is paramount,” said Yankees manager Mario Garza, “they have to know how to swing at good pitches, see the ball, and lay off of pitches out of the zone.”
Tomorrow night these two teams will be back at it as Andy Beresford will be making the spot start for the Yankees. Beresford has played 25 professional games, working out of the bullpen in all of them. It is also the team’s Salute to Bacon, fans can get many bacon infused products at the concessions.
You must be logged in to post a comment.