STATEN ISLAND, NY- It’s all on the line. A game between the Staten Island Yankees and the visiting Batavia Muckdogs is tied at two in the eighth inning with the next run probably deciding who wins.

Out to the mound steps Baby Bomber setup reliever Brad Rulon. Wearing No.57, the 22 year-old righthander who the Yankees grabbed in the 34th round last month out of Georgia Tech throws nothing but strikes combining a fastball with a curve and slider which helps explain all his success this summer in a setup role to switch-pitching closer Pat Venditte.

On this particular night, Rulon has no trouble against the Muckdogs tossing a scoreless eighth and ninth while fanning four making it an impressive 28 strikeouts in only 20 innings while allowing just one earned. Opposing batters are hitting .183 against him. It’s all working for the 5-11 189-pound reliever who idolizes Atlanta starter Tim Hudson and any other pitcher under six feet.

“You just try to come in and try not to think about what the situation is,” he explained after improving to 2-0 in a 3-2 win thanks to Jack Rye’s bases loaded walkoff in front of another home sellout at the ball park in St. George. “I just try to go in and throw strikes. When you come in, you try to get ahead in the count.”

Along with that 2-0 record and 28 K’s is a miniscule 0.50 ERA while allowing just 13 hits in 20 frames ruling Penn League batters over the first month.

“I just feel really locked in. I’m pitching really confident right now. My breaking ball’s really working. Just using that to put hitters away and I’m feeling good right now.”

On this particular night, Rulon stuck with what was having success pounding the outside corner catching a couple of Batavia batters looking.

“The umpire gave me a good zone tonight,” he modestly indicated with a grin. “They were right where I want them. Low and away. So, just hitting the target.”

Thus far, he’s worked quite well with starting catcher Mitch Abeita. The two have been on the same page which has been a great thing for manager Pat McMahon late in games.

“I really like throwing to him. He’s a really good catcher. We’re starting to really get. We know each other now. He calls a great game.”

It hasn’t hurt that a relief corps which includes lefty Tim Dennehy, Andy Shive, Daniel Kapala, Drew Shetrone and Josue Selenes has been equally as effective getting the ball to Rulon and Venditte to finish off games.

“The whole team’s throwing well, you kind of just think about what you’re expected to do. Everyone’s doing it. Just go out and get the hitters,” he pointed out.

Rulon also hasn’t minded the overwhelming support from the home crowd which has come out in huge numbers selling out Richmond County Bank Ball Park nine times already with number 10 against Verrazano rival Brooklyn expected Monday at the Ferry Terminal before the team hits the road.

“It’s awesome. The fans here are great since I came here from Florida. Just great to be playing here. A nice stadium. … It’s really been awesome.”

As for playing in the big city, that hasn’t bothered Rulon in the least.

“That’s cool too. Whenever we’re off the bus, I just love playing to that scenery. It’s just awesome.”

Having been off a couple of weeks prior, he and the club toured Yankee Stadium.

“That was awesome too. That was unbelievable. We got to tour the locker room. And we checked out the new Yankee Stadium. It was really cool. It makes you want to work that much harder to come get here.”

Most importantly, Rulon and his Staten Island teammates are playing good ball leading the McNamara Division by three games while boasting a 20-12 record.

“We got plenty of players and everybody’s working hard. Right now, we’re winning and basically, everybody’s rolling.”