STATEN ISLAND, NY- The Fourth of July will always be symbolic for celebrating this country’s birth thanks to the many people who sacrificed so much. It’s also a patriotic holiday where Americans celebrate in style setting off plenty of fireworks.

With the fireworks supplied across the river in Jersey City and in Manhattan via Macy’s, the Staten Island Yankees decided to toss a few extra rockets in an exciting 11-9 home win over Mahoning Valley before an energized packed house of 7,171 at Richmond County Bank Ball Park by the Ferry Terminal Friday night.

“It’s obviously a very difficult day to perform in with the wind and more so the rain. When the conditions are like that, it makes the field very very tough for both pitching staffs. No question. At this level, you just got to keep scoring runs and understand that fact. Keep playing and do the very best you can,” Staten Island manager Pat McMahon pointed out after taking in some extra fireworks along with his team courtesy of the stadium post-game entertainment.

His club scored early and often getting at least a run in six of the first seven innings before holding on due to the tough windy conditions.

“There’s no question it did. Particularly with the conditions going on and the pitchers. It made it tough conditions to perform in. But you got to battle through that. It’s just one of those things. You’ve got to throw the ball in the strike zone, grab a couple of runs and you got to limit walks and our guys are working very hard. They understand that and they’ll continue to get through.”

McMahon saw his ballclub build a six-run lead thanks to a four-run fourth highlighted by some big two out hits. Following a bunt single by second baseman Ryan Wilkes, Kaimi Mead uncorked a wild pitch putting both runners in scoring position. Staten Island shortstop Walter Ibarra kept the rally alive by walking to load the bases forcing Mead out of the game. Center fielder Ray Kruml greeted Travis Turek rudley with a two out two-run single to right making it 4-1.

After Mike Lyon was plunked re-loading the bases, Ibarra and Kruml came into score on left fielder Dan Brewer’s two-run base hit to center increasing the lead to five.

However, the Scrappers scrapped their way back in it with three runs of their own the next half inning thanks to a passed ball from S.I. starter Brandon Braboy. Following a walk which loaded the bases, he was replaced by Jacinto Gonell, who limited the damage allowing an RBI single to Doug Pickens and a Donnie Webb RBI groundout before getting Robert Alcombrack swinging to end it.

Still up two, the Bombers took full advantage of an error which allowed catcher Mitch Abeita to reach. Three batters later with two on and two out, Ibarra delivered a three-run home run to right giving his team a 9-4 lead.

“I thank God for giving me the ability to play. It was a good game,” the leadoff man said through translator Victor Valencia.

As it turned out, the two insurance runs they tacked in on a Jahdiel Santamaria two out RBI single which plated Abeita in the sixth and a Jack Rye RBI forceout which allowed Kruml to score in the home seventh was needed because Mahoning Valley never quit. They scored twice in the top of the seventh without a hit thanks to five combined walks from Gonell who left with an injury and was replaced by lefty Tim Dennehy.

Still up 11-6, it got even more interesting when the Scrappers continued to chip away thanks to a Rye error. With a couple of runners on and two out, Dennehy appeared to get out of the jam when he got Pickens to pop the ball up to a short right. But Rye dropped the ball allowing one run to score. Replaced by closer Pat Venditte, Dickens watched as the ambidextrous reliever struggled to find the plate walking three straight batters to force in a couple of more runs before finally escaping when Ryan Blair popped out to Lyon at third.

“I was having a really tough time locating pitches,” Venditte explained at his locker as the team packed to get ready for a road series with Auburn starting later tonight. “You don’t get ahead of hitters, things aren’t going to work out for you. I really struggled there in the eighth. Luckily, we made a nice play to get out of it. … The fans really helped me out. That gave me a big boost. Especially when I was struggling with the bases loaded. For them to support me like that meant a lot.”

After recording the first two outs quickly in the ninth, Venditte couldn’t finish off a pesky Jeremie Tice who laced a double in the gap to put the tying run at the plate. But the two-armed specialist persevered enough to get Brock Simpson to pop out to Mesa finally ending a game which took over three and a half hour to complete before easily the loudest crowd of the summer.

“It was a long game. Lot of walks. Lot of hits from both sides but it was fun. Good to come out with a ‘W,’ stated Kruml after reaching base four of five times finishing a productive three-for-five with two RBI’s and three runs scored. “Just putting the ball in play. Didn’t really hit anything really hard. Found some right places I guess.”

“We’ve been playing well. The bats came alive. The pitchers have been throwing well and I’m doing my job. I’m closing out games late which is big,” Venditte added.

“When you’re at home, you want to win. It was huge for our team to get all six games.”