STATEN ISLAND, NY- Pitching and defense is usually a good recipe for success.

That was the case for the Baby Bombers as they posted their sixth win in seven by getting great pitching and D in a 3-0 blanking of the Jammers Friday night at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

The win improved them to 30-20, picking up a half game on Oneonta who was rained out against Williamsport and will play two later today. The Bombers now lead the wildcard by a full game.
“We came off a tough win last night and it’s good to follow it up with another win today coming back from the road trip,” expressed left fielder Matt Morris after coming up with a big eighth inning RBI single for a big insurance run in the win.

With the Staten Island pen protecting a two-run lead in the top half of the frame thanks to some nifty glove work by third baseman Braedyn Pruitt which prevented Ryan Curry from making things interesting, Morris delivered a big two out hit to give closer Jonathan Ortiz some breathing room.

He drove home second baseman Damon Sublett from third with a clean RBI single to left which made it 3-0.

“That was big. You always like to win close games. It makes it seem better in the long run but to have those extra runs are always good,” he added.

It supported winning starter Jason Stephens (2-0) who continued to look sharp in his return back from Tommy John surgery.

“Just throwing the ball well,” the pleased pitcher pointed out after working the first six scoreless while allowing just two baserunners to reach on hits in his final two innings of work. He retired the first 12 batters he faced.

“I’m starting to feel a lot better. Getting a few more fastballs in outings and I’m throwing it well. Getting a lot healthier. … I just try to throw strikes and let them hit it.”

“I noticed he works off his fastball a lot,” said Justin Snyder. “Like he doesn’t throw too many offspeed pitches and it’s good that he gets people out without showing them all his pitches. At an important time of a game, he can just knock off a curveball they haven’t seen before and they pretty much buckle.”

While Stephens was taking care of business on the mound, he got some early support from his teammates in the home first.

After the 1-2 punch of Snyder and Taylor singled and doubled, Sublett’s sacrifice fly put Staten Island in front. Cleanup hitter Pruitt followed through with a runscoring single to center which plated Sublett for a two-run lead.

“All around we’re playing pretty well. Defense, offense and pitching’s awesome. So it’s hard to lose when you do that,” the Bombers’ versatile leadoff hitter who played a flawless short explained a day after being selected as a NY-Penn League All-Star.

“Jumping out to a lead, it’s good. It’s good to put the other team against the wall because it’s hard to get going for them cause they’re already down so early.”

Morris came up with a chance to add more but a great catch by a hustling Justin Jacobs prevented an extra base hit and helped keep Jamestown in the game.

“I thought this was a bit of a deceiving game for me. The pitching was obvious. … We had six good at bats in a row in first inning. Only got two runs but hit into a couple of tough outs. And we hit into at least three tough outs after that,” skipper Mike Gillespie noted.
After middle reliever Jason Kiley took the ball and worked a solid seventh, he ran into trouble in his second inning of work putting runners on the corners with one out. He cameback to fan Marcus Crockett before Gillespie decided to bring in his closer for a four out save.

Ortiz got Curry to ground down the third base line but a diving stop by Pruitt and perfect strike across the infield helped end the threat- drawing cheers from those who braved autumn-like conditions after a severe storm earlier in the day.

“It was a real close game. We pitched real well and Pruitt’s play was a big play. It was a good win. Real good win,” Gillespie stated.

“[Ortiz] has been money for us since he’s gotten here. In big situations, I don’t think he’s really scared of anything. Any pitch. Any count. He’ll throw it,” added Snyder.

“Pruitt’s play just…defense like I said has been going pretty well. Everything’s cooking right now. Hopefully we can make a run at Brooklyn.”

Notes: The Bombers were unable to gain any ground on the division leading Cyclones who pulled out a 4-3 win over Auburn to remain four and a half up. … On base three times, Holiday finished with a double, two walks, a run scored and swiped his club leading 14th base. … With another run knocked in, Sublett now has 10 RBI’s in his last four contests. … Stephens went the first six permitting only two hits and striking out five. In his last two outings, he’s tossed 12 straight scoreless while giving up just four total hits while walking two and fanning seven. … After coming on for one out in the eighth, Ortiz struckout the side in the ninth for his ninth save. … Staten Island hosts Jamestown in the middle game later tonight.