STATEN ISLAND, NY- This time, the Cyclones got the last laugh on Pat Venditte. Brought into a tie game with a runner on, the Staten Island ambidextrous closer couldn’t deliver against a more disciplined Brooklyn bunch who touched him up for two of their three runs in the eighth of a much needed 4-1 win over the Baby Bombers Monday night to take the latest installment of the Verrazano series before a 10th sellout (7,171) at Richmond County Bank Ball Park by the Ferry Terminal.

Switch hitter Jordan Abruzzo got the better of Venditte from the left side pulling a flat change up deep to right taking Staten Island’s Dan Brewer to the warning track. At first, it looked like it would stay in the park but the night air took it out over Brewer’s outstretched glove for a go-ahead two-run home run.

“I’m surprised it went out,” Abruzzo said afterwards on the field as teammates celebrated their second series win over their rivals. “I thought it got the fence. So, when I finally saw it go out, I was just relieved.”

“I left some pitches up in the zone. You can’t do that here,” Venditte lamented after also giving up a two strike two out RBI single to Brooklyn third baseman Eric Campbell.

“I shouldn’t get beat on my third best pitch,” he explained of the second homer he’s allowed this season. “I saw the wind was blowing out. I thought maybe for a second, [Brewer] might have a chance. When it got to the wall, I knew it was out.”

“Pretty close,” Brewer added of how close he was to getting the glove on it. “It’s tough out there with the lights. The wind pushed it out.”

The victory was more important for the Cyclones (15-18), who entered in last and trailed by as many as seven to first place Staten Island (20-13) following Melky Mesa’s walkoff the other night.

“Huge. Huge. It could’ve meant the season. If we didn’t take two games, we could’ve been buried. We knew what we had to do. We came out feeling no pressure and just played the game. That’s basically how we have to go about our business the rest of the year,” Abruzzo noted after his team pulled into a third place tie with Aberdeen five out.

Campbell’s insurance run could’ve been big if Brewer had found a way on base in the bottom of the eighth following a leadoff walk to third baseman Mike Lyon off Cyclones’ reliever Stephen Clyne. The Staten Island right fielder had a rough night striking out three times including once leaving the bases loaded in a tie game back in the fifth. On Clyne’s 3-1 pitch, it looked like he had drawn another walk which would’ve meant the tying run coming up with nobody out.

Instead, plate umpire Nick Mahrley called the low inside pitch a strike making it a full count. He had a wide strike zone all night. On the next pitch, Brewer struck out swinging for the first out. Clyne then got Braedyn Pruitt and Mitch Abeita to bounce out ending the frame.

“I don’t really know what to say about it. … I thought it was a ball. I thought for a second, [Mahrley] thought it was a ball. Nothing you can do about it. … It could’ve gone either way. I took a swing and tried to put it in play,” Brewer explained.

After Dan Kapala came on for Venditte tossing a scoreless ninth which included a nifty inning ending 4-6-3 double play started with a flip by David Adams to Addison Maruszak, who fired to first, the Bombers went quietly in their last licks going 1-2-3 against Clyne. He fanned the last couple including tough leadoff man Ray Kruml after a battle to end it. It was Clyne’s third save this summer.

“We had our chances,” Brewer pointed out. “You have games like that where you don’t drive in runs when you need to, don’t get the calls you’re going to get. They came through in the eighth and got their runs. We had our chances but just didn’t produce when we needed.”

“Obviously, the rivalry’s very intense,” Lyon added after reaching base twice via walks in the defeat. “But they got a lot of good players over there. A good pitching staff. They got a good team.”

“Obviously, we wanted to win it. A call here. A call there. Who knows what could happen? They definitely have a solid staff. Hopefully, we’ll get them next weekend.”
Notes: Overlooked in the defeat was the pitching of starter Brandon Braboy, who if not for some shaky defense in the second where his teammates booted three balls could very well have not allowed a run and been in line for the win. He went a solid five permitting one unearned on two hits while only walking one and striking out five before giving way to reliever Brad Rulon, who continued to dominate tossing two scoreless fanning a couple. … Lefty Tim Dennehy started the eighth and pitched to two batters retiring one and allowing a solid single to Ike Davis before the ‘Clones roughed up Venditte for two runs on four hits in two thirds. Unfortunately, Dennehy was charged with the loss falling to 1-1. … Brooklyn SP Pedro P. Martinez went four and a third allowing one earned on six hits while walking and K-ing a pair. … The fourth pitcher of the night Brandon Moore improved to 3-1 after retiring two batters to end the seventh. … In a losing effort, Pruitt and Abeita each finished 2-for-4. … The Bombers’ only run came on consecutive doubles by Maruszak and Kruml in the fifth to tie before stranding three. … Due to a couple of arguments which included S.I. hitting coach Ty Hawkins getting tossed for arguing a check swing strike on Brewer, the game took three hours and 22 minutes to complete.

“I might’ve been a little distracted,” told Brewer of the heated argument which even saw manager Pat McMahon come out of the dugout to hold Hawkins back. “But it’s my job to not let that bother me. … Next time, I’ll be ready.”

Added Lyon:

“That was for last night when I hit a home run which was turned into a double. I was hoping they were going to give me a few gracious calls. It was really strange.”

Bombers to face league’s best: Staten Island hits the road for three against Penn League leader Jamestown (22-9) before returning to New York for another series against Brooklyn with two in Keyspan and the middle game back in St. George this Saturday.

STATEN ISLAND, NY- One of the characteristics Staten Island Yankee manager Pat McMahon likes most about his team is their never say die attitude.

Once again, that was on display in a thrilling come from behind 5-4 walkoff win over the Verrazano rival Cyclones before a third consecutive sellout (7,171) at a loud Richmond County Bank Ball Park by the Ferry Terminal Saturday night. It was the second straight win in their final at bat bolstering Staten Island’s (20-11) McNamara Division lead to seven games over the last place Cyclones (13-18), who looked poised to take their third of four in the season series.

A night earlier, it was Jack Rye who delivered a walkoff bases loaded hit defeating Batavia. This time, the heroics were provided by left fielder Melky Mesa, who drilled a one out three-run home run to left giving his team an exciting victory.

“It feels good,” he said in front of his locker via translator Victor Valencia following getting cream pied by teammate Jahdiel Santamaria with shortstop Addison Maruszak the orchestrator sharing a good chuckle along with teammates. “The way I hit the ball, it felt good to win the game.”

“When you got that many guys contributing, it’s a special group that’s worked very hard and believes in itself,” a happy McMahon praised in the winner’s dugout as he took in some fireworks from across the water. “[Mesa] has been working hard in the cage with Hawk [Ty Hawkins]. It was his moment.”

After jumping out to an early one-run first inning lead thanks to second baseman David Adams’ first professional home run to center, the Baby Bombers were held in check by Brooklyn starter Brad Holt, who settled down after escaping a first and second one out second inning jam by getting Ray Kruml chasing a breaking pitch out of the zone and Adams looking at another nasty curve.

In fact, the Cyclones’ righty retired 12 of the final 13 he faced before parting ways with one out in the sixth due to reaching his limit. By that point, his teammates had supported him with four runs including a deep two-run Jordan Abruzzo blast to left off Bomber lefty reliever Tim Dennehy a half inning earlier.

“[Holt] is an outstanding prospect who has a good career ahead of him,” McMahon said. “We hit the ball hard early. He pitched himself out of a jam. Got some strikeouts because he’s a quality guy. I saw him in college a lot. His breaking ball has really really come along well. And with his fastball and straight change, it makes it tough.”

Staten Island didn’t fare much better against Brooklyn’s Roy Merritt, who retired six of the first seven he faced before Adams nearly had his second home run of the night driving one to the opposite field off the right field fence. The night before, his hustle helped the team comeback to beat Batavia. This time, that same aggressive baserunning got Adams’ a one out triple in the eighth, allowing him to score on Brian Baisley’s RBI bouncer back to Merritt for a 1-3 forceout slicing the deficit to 4-2.

“Great feeling,” Adams boasted. “We had great clutch pitching. Our relievers. Casey [Erickson] did a good job holding them to two. Dennehy did a great job. Unfortunately, had a blunder with me up the middle on that hit. What are you going to do. And then Brewer with that key bunt. Pruitt kept it going and of course, Mesa with that bomb. What more could you ask for?”

Trailing by a couple, the stirring comeback wouldn’t have been possible without some splendid pitching from Andy Shive. After putting the first two on via a leadoff Eric Campbell double off the center field wall and getting himself in further trouble by choosing to go to third on a comebacker but throwing high and too late, the righty suddenly was facing a first and third no out hole.

That’s when he showed great poise by getting on the same page with catcher Mitch Abeita, striking out the next three to climb out of it. First, he put a heater right on the outside corner getting Sean Ratliff looking. The next victim was John Servidio, who went fishing on a dipping curve out of the zone. With the outside formula working to perfection, the battery duo didn’t change much as Shive’s 2-2 curve down and away caught nothing but air from Jake Eigsti allowing him to pull a houdini act and give his team some momentum.

“I kind of left the ball up and got in trouble early giving up that leadoff double off the wall. And then on that ball, I didn’t get a good grip on it and put myself in a really bad situation,” Shive explained. “I just had to refocus and compose myself. Try to do my best to get those three outs and give my team a chance.”

“I got a lot of confidence in [Abeita]. When I’m ahead in the count, that’s a huge deal. It allows me to throw my pitch. I have a lot of confidence in him. … We’re just trying to attack the zone the best we could. Make him hit our pitch in that situation.”

Facing Brooklyn’s Stephen Clyne, they were able to carry it thanks to a great drag bunt up the third baseline by pinch hitter Dan Brewer, who just beat the throw across the diamond for a leadoff hit. Third baseman Braedyn Pruitt followed with a clean line drive single up the middle putting runners on at first and second forcing Cyclones’ skipper Edgar Alfonzo to go over strategy with his infield. Abeita’s sac bunt failed to advance the runners as Clyne quickly picked it up and tossed out Brewer at third for the first out.

Following McMahon sending in Santamaria to pinch run for Abeita, the hero Mesa stepped up to the plate and drilled the winning three-run walkoff homer over the left field fence touching off a nice celebration at the plate for the struggling left fielder, who this time came through with his bat instead of his arm.

“It was a battle tonight,” McMahon pointed out. “So many different guys contribute in so many different ways. … That’s the players taking care of it. You put them in their success role and it’s all good. They work hard on hitting. They work hard on their situational game. They work hard and love to play for each other.”

“It’s always exciting to win a game on a walkoff,” Shive added.

“It was all them though. I just tried to give them a chance. It was good and hopefully we can take this momentum into the game [Sunday].”

Notes: In a losing effort, Holt went five and a third permitting one earned on four hits while walking a couple and fanning seven getting a hard luck no-decision. … Though he didn’t have his best stuff, Staten Island SP Casey Erickson still went the first five allowing a couple of earned on six hits while walking a pair and K-ing six while escaping numerous jams to give his team a chance. … RP Daniel Kapala tossed a perfect seventh and eighth while striking out one before the winner Shive came on and stranded a couple with splendid pitching to improve to 4-2. … The game was delayed seven minutes but took a very manageable two hours and 41 minutes before the ninth sellout of the summer with Monday expected to be No.10. … The middle game is later today at 5 PM at KeySpan Park in Coney Island.

Bombers honor Rogers in Home Run For Life: During  break in the game, the Staten Island organization held their second Home Run For Life celebration honoring nine year-old son of owner Jane, Jack Rogers. It was a couple of years after he was born hat he was diagnosed with autism. His problems got even worse when as a five year-old, he was diagnosed with ITP, which is a rare blood disorder that affects the immune system.

Due to health issues, he’s been in the hospital 15 times with each requiring IV treatment to increase his platelet count. His fight might continue but this brave kid has perservered. With both teams out just like Opening Night, he took a victory lap slapping each player’s hand as he rounded the bases to a nice round of applause.

STATEN ISLAND, NY- Runs were at a premium but Pat McMahon’s pesky bunch still had enough thanks to Jack Rye’s walkoff basehit with the bases loaded in the home ninth allowing the Staten Island Yankees to pull out a 3-2 win over Batavia before a second consecutive sellout of 7,171 at Richmond County Bank Ball Park to take the series.

It was the eighth sellout of the season with a couple of more expected against the last place Cyclones over the next three days.

“Guys came up in big situations,” right fielder Dan Brewer noted after contributing in the field with a couple of nice running catches. “Pitchers threw well. [Brian] Baisley had a great game today. He’s swinging it well. A two-run homer. Back to battling. Some guys just had big at bats. In tough situations, they came through.”

The Baby Bombers got a good outing from Nick Montgomery, who permitted just one earned in five innings allowing a two out Xavier Scruggs second inning RBI double which put his team down a run. With Batavia’s Thomas Eager holding the Staten Island bats in check tossing five scoreless while scattering a couple of hits and fanning three, that run seemed like more.

The Bombers finally got a break thanks to some hustle from second baseman David Adams in the sixth against new pitcher George Brown. After the first two batters were retired, the Muckdogs’ reliever appeared on his way to a 1-2-3 inning but Adams’ lazy fly to short center was lost in the lights by center fielder Frederick Parejo allowing it to fall for a double. However, Adams never stopped completely and when he saw that nobody was covering third, he didn’t hesitate taking the base for a very unconventional triple.

Unfortunately for Brown, that meant trouble because he had to face the Bombers’ hottest hitter Baisley, who after falling behind 0-2 got back to 2-2 before clocking a homer to dead center off the batter’s eye suddenly giving them a 2-1 lead. It was his second home run of the series and fifth RBI. He drove in at least a run in all three games.

“At first, I thought I hit it off the wall. I didn’t know it was a home run until I saw the umpire,” a very pleased Baisley acknowledged in the winner’s locker room after going a perfect four-for-four raising his average to .379. ”I’m seeing the ball well. I’m actually surprised cause of the break. … I’ve had good runs but nothing quite like this.”

The lead was shortlived as returning reliever Jason Kiley served up a seventh inning two out dinger to Parejo, who atoned by hitting a line drive in the same area to tie it.

With the game still in the balance, McMahon went to setup man Brad Rulon (2-0), who was more than up to the challenge putting up two consecutive zeroes in the eighth and ninth while striking out four including a couple looking on perfect pitches which painted the outside corner.

“You just try to come in and try not to think about what the situation is,” he said. “When you come in, you try to get ahead in the count.”

“They’ve done that all year. Ever since the first game, they’ve been lights out,” Baisley pointed out.

After Rulon retired the side in the ninth getting a couple swinging, the stage was set for the home club to send an eighth sellout Friday night Fireworks crowd home happy. It started with some plate discipline by backstop Mitch Abeita, who worked out a leadoff walk off Brown. The pitcher than put himself in more trouble with a throwing error on Addison Maruszak’s successful sacrifice overthrowing first which allowed both runners to move up a base leaving the winning run 90 feet away with nobody out.

Both managers played by the book with McMahon having righty hitting first baseman Jahdiel Santamaria ready to hit against the lefty but Batavia skipper Mark DeJohn immediately went to righty sidearmer Jason Buursma. In full winning mode, McMahon quickly countered with veteran lefty corner infielder Braedyn Pruitt. The move paid dividends when he fought back from an 0-2 hole drawing a walk to load the bases.

“That was huge for us. For [Pruitt] to get on base. Rye came through the other day. He hit the ball hard last time against him. So it was just bound to happen. He got a hit and we win the game,” Brewer added.

With left fielder Melky Mesa struggling at the plate, the Staten Island manager had one more trick up his sleeve sending up outfielder Jack Rye to pinch hit. He fell behind 1-2 but delivered the walkoff basehit up the middle past a drawn in infield allowing pinch runner Taylor Grote to walk home for the winning run.

Notes: Behind the plate, Abeita threw out two of three runners trying to steal second. On the Staten Island side, Brewer stole his fifth base turning out to be the only steal attempt of the night. … Playing in left, Mesa made a key defensive play tossing out a runner trying to go for two to end the Batavia fifth before a second run crossed the plate with plate umpire Joel Myers emphatically waving it off as McMahon rushed out of the dugout. … In his home debut as a starter, Montgomery went five allowing a run on four hits while walking a pair and K-ing four to get a no-decision. … For Batavia, Brown took the loss giving up all three earned in three frames falling to 0-1. … RP Drew Shetrone worked a scoreless sixth escaping a bases loaded one out situation by striking out the last two. … Brian Chavez returned from the DL getting the start at the hot corner going 0-for-3. … First place Staten Island (19-11) plays host to Verrazano rival Brooklyn (13-17) in the first of a three-game set with the middle game at KeySpan Park with the series finale wrapping up back at the Ferry Terminal.

STATEN ISLAND, NY- He’s the elder statesman of this bunch. Brian Baisley continues to do the job for the Staten Island Yankees.

The latest evidence was on display when his tying solo home run sparked the club to a four-run fourth which proved large as they held on for a 6-5 win over Batavia in the first game of the series before 4,242 at Richmond County Bank Ball Park by the Ferry Terminal Wednesday night.

“It’s always good to get a win,” the third-year veteran catcher/first baseman pointed out following another productive night at the plate finishing two-for-four with his first homer of the season and two RBI’s helping make it three wins in their last four.  

“I was swinging a hot bat before I got hurt and it’s tough to hit after missing 11 [days]. So it’s nice to get a couple of hits. It felt pretty good.”

The Baby Bombers started the game quickly with three consecutive hits by Ray Kruml (single), David Adams (ground rule double) and Baisley (RBI single to right) going ahead 1-0. Jack Rye’s sac fly scored the second run. With a chance for more, Dan Brewer hit into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play.

The Muckdogs fought back tying the game with a pair of runs in the second off starter Brad Braboy. After a leadoff walk to Shane Peterson, Blake Murphy’s line drive double down the left field line allowed Peterson to come around and score. After Braboy induced a tailor-made 6-4-3 DP, he allowed a two out RBI single up the middle to Xavier Scruggs which tied it at two.

A one out Colt Sedbrook blast to dead center hit off the black for a homer putting Batavia ahead 3-2. Braboy pitched around a one out double and walk getting two Muckdogs looking to escape further damage.

With his team still trailing, Baisley got the home fourth started by hitting a deep drive to right center which cleared the fence tying the game.

“I didn’t know I got it until it went over the board out there,” he mentioned. “We put up two runs in the first and then they put up two runs and a run and had the momentum going their way. We kind of swung it the other way in that fourth inning.”

Gaining some momentum from the dinger, the Bombers got to losing Batavia starter Ramon Delgado (1-1) knocking him out of the game when Rye, Braedyn Pruitt and catcher Mitch Abeita each singled to load the bases with one out. They proceeded to bat around as Josh Hester provided little relief immediately losing left fielder Taylor Grote on a bases loaded walk forcing in a run. Bomber shortstop Addison Maruszak followed with a sac fly to center making it 5-3.

As it turned out, the biggest hit of the evening belonged to Kruml, who delivered a two out runscoring single to right giving Staten Island a 6-3 lead.

“Guys were hot. Baisley had a bunch of good hits. Everyone’s swinging it pretty well,” the leadoff center fielder said. “Made a couple of adjustments with high and that worked out today.”

Following a couple of solid scoreless frames from winning reliever Andy Shive (3-2) in which he struckout four of the six swinging, the late inning specialists ran into a little trouble.

First, Tim Dennehy gave up three consecutive two out singles in the seventh including a Peterson RBI base hit to left cutting the lead to 6-4. However, a critical baserunning mistake by Peterson saw him get tossed out at second 7-6-4 ending the frame.

Brad Rulon then entered bringing in a perfect ERA into the night like Dennehy but had similar hard luck. He also recorded the first two outs of the eighth before three straight Muckdogs reached on a double, walk and a Charles Cutler RBI single slicing it to 6-5. But Rulon buckled down getting Frederick Parejo to bounce into an easy 6-4 putout.

Closer Pat Venditte came on pitching around a one out single by retiring the next two batters on a fly out and got Blake Murphy chasing a nasty slider to end it recording his eighth save.

“We got a lot of confidence in our bullpen,” Kruml accurately assessed.

“Our pen’s done the job all year. So we have confidence in them.” 

Notes: In a losing effort, Batavia third baseman Jermaine Curtis was 4-for-5 with a run scored raising his average to .333. … Three Bombers finished with at least two hits including Baisley, Pruitt (2-for-4) and Kruml (3-for-4) with each scoring a run. … Since returning from the DL, Baisley has started at first twice and is 5-for-8 with three extra base hits (HR, 2 doubles) plus a pair of runs and RBI’s elevating his average to .339 (20-for-59). … Delgado allowed six runs (5 ER), eight hits and a homer in three and a third while Braboy worked the first four permitting three earned on four hits also allowing a long ball while walking three and K-ing two to get a no-decision. … With the win, Staten Island (18-10) opened up a three game lead on Hudson Valley. … The contest took two hours and 38 minutes. … Game Two is later today at St. George with an early start time of 11 AM.

STATEN ISLAND, NY- As in a well known song played over the sound system, the lion certainly lied awake in the jungle today. Staten Island Yankee designated hitter Mike Lyon’s big two out seventh inning hit helped the home club tame the Tigers 5-3 bouncing back from an error filled loss the previous night before a packed house of 7,171 on Kids Camp Day at Richmond County Bank Ball Park at the Ferry Terminal.

“The kid made a tough pitch. Got me out a little in front. I was actually going to fight it off. I saw it was in the zone and so I just tried to get out. You know. It’s baseball. It worked out for me. So it was good to get the lead and then hold them there,” he explained at his locker after another productive day reaching base three times finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored and the deciding RBI.

“Our defense was pretty bad last night but it still was a close game considering what happened but that’s baseball. One day the defense can be down. One day the hitting might be down and one day everything will be down. Pitching. Everything. So we pick each other up and the next day get back on a winning streak,” he pointed out after helping the Baby Bombers to their 11th win in the last 12 including seven of eight at home.

The hit came at the right time as the Bomber bats had cooled off after getting off to a quick start with three in the first highlighted by David Adams and Dan Brewer runscoring doubles plus an RBI groundout from third baseman Braedyn Pruitt.

When it looked like Oneonta pitchers would toss a sixth straight zero by retiring the first two Staten Island batters, the Bombers sprung to life thanks to some wildness from pitcher Aaron Fuhrman, who plunked Adams and then allowed the second baseman to move up a base on a wild pitch setting the stage for Lyon to deliver by just getting enough of the bat on a tough outside pitch placing it between second and right allowing the go-ahead run to come in.

“Coming back for this early game here, it’s tough to get back up after a loss like that with seven errors on defense. You know playing almost 12 hours later. 11 o’clock start but we got our bats back in order like we were on that win streak and just came through with a clutch hit and the breaks went our way. Everything worked out.”

“We had to wake up at 6:45. It’s a little bit different schedule than we’re used to. I mean once you get out there and start playing, get the lead and wash it away,” teammate Pruitt added of the quick turnaround.

Despite some shaky D on back-to-back sacrifices including an error by catcher Steve Strausbaugh which put reliever Josue Selenes in a bases loaded no out jam, Staten Island caught a huge break when Billy Nowlin lined back to the pitcher, who then got the benefit of a call at third nailing Bryan Pounds for a 1-5 double play. Selenes then kept his perfect ERA intact by getting Tyler Weber to harmlessly fly out to Melky Mesa ending it.

“The coach was rather adamant about the disagreement with the call. I’m not going to make a judgment one way or the other but hey. Sometimes the breaks go your way. Fortunately for us, today was our day,” Pruitt noted of the heated discussion which took place as he stood and watched the umpire send Pounds back to the dugout.

Once they came back up to bat, there was no doubting the Bombers’ killer instinct as they strung together three consecutive hits to start the home half to pickup a key insurance run. Strausbaugh got it started by beating out an infield hit and then left fielder Taylor Grote stroked a double into the right field corner putting runners in scoring position. First baseman Jahdiel Santamaria singled home Strausbaugh making it 5-3 before Oneonta’s Anthony Shawler escaped further damage by striking out two of the next three batters.

“It was good to get a couple of runs late.” 

Closer Pat Venditte came in and retired the side in order getting the final batter Ben Guez swinging to notch his sixth save.

Notes: Though he didn’t get a decision, S.I. starter Brad Braboy was solid working the first five while allowing two runs (1 ER) on six hits while striking out a couple. … Despite allowing a tying solo home run to Nowlin which hit off the batting eye in center, Bomber reliever Drew Shetrone picked up the win going two innings while improving to 1-1. … The two, three and four hitters all finished with a couple of hits each as Adams, Lyon and Brewer combined to go 6-for-10 with three doubles, three runs scored and three RBI’s. Adams is 6-for-9 in the series with a trio of two-baggers, runs and runs knocked in. … Fuhrman (2-2) suffered the loss for Oneonta allowing the winning run on four hits in four frames while K-ing three. … The game which was the fifth sellout of the summer took a manageable two hours and thirty six minutes. … Injured SS Addison Maruszak said he was “feeling a lot better” and close to returning. … The rubber match of the series is tomorrow night.

STATEN ISLAND, NY- During their season high nine-game winning streak, the Staten Island Yankees were cashing in on opponents’ mistakes while limiting theirs. However, the roles were reversed in last night’s 5-4 home loss to Oneonta before 3,453 at Richmond County Bank Ball Park by the Ferry Terminal.

The Baby Bombers weren’t sharp in the field committing a season worst seven errors. Not surprisingly, the Tigers took advantage scoring all five unearned runs in three different frames to jump out to a 5-0 lead before the home club made it interesting late but ultimately fell just a little short of extending their streak.

Before a 10-minute downpour interrupted play in the fourth for over an hour, Oneonta made Staten Island pay for their sloppy play in the field. Bomber starter Luke Greinke couldn’t escape the third like he did in the first which saw the Tigers load the bases before he wiggled out of trouble.

Instead, Oneonta jumped out in front pushing across two unearned thanks to miscues from S.I. shortstop Walter Ibarra and left fielder Taylor Grote. Ibarra booted the potential second out of the inning allowing Ben Guez to reach on an E6. A batter later, Grote let a Chris White line drive play him dropping the ball to put runners on the corners. After Greinke got the second out, Carlos Ramirez delivered a two-run triple to right center which eluded a diving Melky Mesa. Though the Bomber center fielder initally stayed in the game, he later was replaced following the rain by Ray Kruml.

When the game finally resumed, the Bombers had a chance to get back in it with two runners on but DH Jack Rye hit into an inning ending 5-4-3 double play to kill the threat.

The follies continued as even sure handed first baseman Jahdiel Santamaria botched a routine grounder and then was followed by a Mike Lyon E5 for the fifth error of the night on what looked to be a potential DP. Even with the two miscues, reliever Dan Kapala limited the damage to a run on a Bryan Pounds RBI single. Second baseman David Adams turned a nice 4-4-3 twin killing to keep the Bombers within three in the fifth.

Following an inning ending Grote double play with Kruml on, the Tigers added another run taking advantage of Ibarra’s second error of the game. It was preceded by a Mitch Abeita throwing error on a pickoff allowing a runner to get into scoring position. With a couple of more runners on, Oneonta executed a perfect squeeze with Brandon Douglas getting it down perfectly between third and short and then beating it out to put runners on at first and second. Guez followed with a runscoring base hit to left plating Joseph Bowen for the fifth run.

Just when the game seemed over, Staten Island sprung to life with three straight hits by Braedyn Pruitt, Ibarra and Adams to load the bases in the sixth with no one out. Two batters later, right fielder Dan Brewer’s sac fly got them on the board. Rye then beat out an infield hit with a throwing error by Oneonta’s Mike Gosse allowing Adams to score the second run. Abeita then reached on an error re-loading the bases but Kruml bounced into an inning ending 4-6 force out.

Still trailing 5-2 in the seventh, the Bombers drew closer when Ibarra and Adams had back-to-back two out doubles with the latter nearly going yard with the ball going off the left center field fence. With the tying run up at the plate, Lyon worked the count from 0-2 to full but took a tough called strike three on what appeared to be a ball a couple of inches outside.

Despite the errors and such a call not going their way, Staten Island continued to battle till the very bitter end. After the first two batters were retired, they put together a two out rally in their last licks. A Pruitt walk was followed by an Ibarra base hit. With the tying runs on base, Adams singled to right scoring Pruitt to slice it to one but Ibarra was pegged out by right fielder Luis Arlet to fittingly end a night of mistakes.

Notes: Adams broke out of an 0-for-20 slide with four hits in five at bats scoring a run and driving in two. … Despite a couple of costly errors, Ibarra finished 3-for-5 at the plate with a couple of runs. … Pruitt replaced Santamaria at first reaching base twice in three at bats. … Greinke worked the first four suffering the loss to drop to 0-2 giving up three unearned on three hits while K-ing a pair. … S.I. reliever Brad Rulon came on and worked the final two innings striking out five Tigers while giving his team a chance to comeback. … Mark Brackman picked up the win despite allowing two runs (ER) on five hits in two frames. … The nine inning game took two hours and 52 minutes while the rain delay lasted 68 minutes. … First place Bombers (14-8) look to bounceback against the Tigers in the middle game with a rare early 11 AM start on Kids Camp Day in St. George.

STATEN ISLAND, NY- Stop them if you can. Lately, nobody has been able to to deny the suddenly resurgent Baby Bombers on their six-game homestand. They’ve been getting great pitching and cashing in on opponents’ mistakes.

Once again, Pat McMahon’s ballclub took care of business taking advantage of four errors in a 10-1 drubbing of Mahoney Valley before a pleased crowd of 4,055 at Richmond County Bank Ball Park by the Ferry Terminal Thursday night.

“We’re working at it. We still got a long way to go and obviously the guys battled good today. They’re figuring some things out and getting in a routine. The effort’s been good all year. We just got to get better every day,” the pleased first-year Staten Island skipper explained in the winner’s dugout.

“Anytime at this level that teams give you four outs an inning or plus, you got to be able to score multiple runs and we were very fortunate our side we had two four run innings. … Offensively our guys are figuring it out. … Collectively, we’re swinging a little bit better. There’s still some areas we got to get better in. Some guys collectively but we’ll keep working at it. The guys are a great group to be around. Their work ethic has been outstanding.”

The hard work paid off as the Staten Island Yankees executed well in the fourth off losing Mahoning Valley reliever Anillins Martinez (0-1) pushing across the game’s first two runs. The first three batters reached via a couple of walks and a Jack Rye seeing eye bloop single which landed between short and left loading the bases. Right fielder Dan Brewer got in the first run by moving the runners over on a productive RBI 4-3 forceout. A batter later, backstop Mitch Abeita’s sac fly plated third baseman Mike Lyon for the two-run lead.

They held that lead also due to some solid pressure pitching from starter Luke Greinke. Despite running into a couple of early jams, the younger brother of Royals’ ace Zach Greinke persevered. A Lyon error put the first two Scrappers on in the second but the righty fanned the next couple swinging and then got defensive help from center fielder Melky Mesa, who for the second time in three nights nailed a runner at the plate to end an inning.

With the game still scoreless, some more D allowed him to escape a first and third one out situation. Lonnie Chisenhall’s bouncer resulted in a wild 5-2-5-3-1 putout at home for the second out. But a Greinke walk loaded the bases. He got out of it by getting Brock Simpson to bounce back for a more conventional 1-3 putout to end the threat.

“He threw amazing,” pointed out Abeita of the 22 year-old Orlando native out of Auburn who cameback to retire six of the final seven he faced falling just short of qualifying for his first win while striking out six.

 ”He had some times where he could’ve gone the other way but he battled really hard through some tough situations. Calls not going our way.”

Following Brad Rulon (1-0) coming on to record the final out of the Scrappers’ fifth, the Bombers saw their opponents botch routine plays committing three of four errors leading to four runs. Staten Island first baseman Jahdiel Santamaria reached to start the fateful inning on an E5 by Jeremie Tice. He then was caught stealing but during the rundown, he made second due to a throwing error by Lonnie Chisenhall.

A couple of batters later with runners on the corners and one away, DH Brian Baisley’s grounder to short was booted by Chisenhall allowing Santamaria to score making it 3-0. Following a short single by Wednesday’s walkoff hero Lyon, a Rye sac fly put them up four. Brewer and Abeita followed with clutch two out hits padding the lead to six.

“Whenever we take advantage of teams’ mistakes, we really gain momentum. It really helps us to move forward and score runs,” Abeita noted after finishing a productive 2-for-3 with three knocked in including a two out double.

“They gave us a lot of opportunities the last two days. Errors and walks. It’s good to capitalize on their mistakes,” Baisley added while noting they’ve been a different team since sweeping a doubleheader from Aberdeen Monday which began the turnaround. “Ever since then, we’ve been swinging better. … Now finally we’re putting seven, eight, nine, ten runs…It’s good. Hitting’s contagious. One guy starts hitting. It’s funny how it gets done.”

The Bombers put the contest out of reach with another four runs during the home seventh adding another definition to the term seventh inning stretch. They greeted Mahoning’s Michael McGuire by having the first five batters reach on four singles and a walk. Consecutive base hits by Rye, Brewer and Abeita increased the lead to 9-0.

Brewer scored the 10th and final run on a Santamaria RBI fielder’s choice giving plenty of support to a staff which all but shutdown the Scrappers holding them to a run on five hits while K-ing 10 including the final batter of the night when closer Pat Venditte got Juan Valdes looking.

“It’s really big. Especially in the first two innings. … I think they had second and third one inning with no one out. And all of a sudden they come out of there with no runs and we’re like, ‘Alright. Now we can get some runs. It was good to have the pitching,” Lyon remarked after reaching base four of five times scoring three runs.

“We deserve to be in first place. Hopefully, we continue to streak for the rest of the year.” 

Notes: Baisley, Rye, Brewer and Abeita each had two hits finishing a very productive 8-for-14 scoring four runs while driving in eight of Staten Island’s 10 runs. … Lyon has hit in all five wins during the streak batting a scorching .588 (10-for-17) with a game-winning homer, four RBI’s and six runs scored. … Rulon went an inning and a third allowing no runs, a hit, a walk while striking out one for his first win of the season. … Dan Kapala went two innings giving up the only run on a hit and walk with a K. … Venditte did issue two walks but cameback to strikeout the last two keeping his perfect ERA intact. … The game took three hours and two minutes. … In his pro debut, MV’s Eric Berger worked three scoreless permitting just a hit and walk while fanning three. … First place Staten Island (10-7) goes for a perfect six-game homestand later tonight against the Scrappers.

STATEN ISLAND, NY- When a team gets extra outs to play with, it must make opponents pay the price. That’s exactly the recipe Dan Brewer and his Staten Island teammates used in a come from behind 9-4 home win over Aberdeen sweeping the three-game series at Richmond County Bank Ball Park in St. George Tuesday night.

“We swung it well tonight,” the Baby Bomber right fielder indicated at his locker after coming up with a big two-run go-ahead single in a five-run fourth cashing in on a couple of Ironbirds’ errors.

“I was seeing the ball well. With the bases loaded, I was just trying to put the ball in play and hit it hard and got it past the shortstop. … We played well tonight and put it all together.”

After spotting their opponents three with a run apiece in the first three frames, the Bombers were able to pickup fallen teammate Cory Arbiso after he turned his ankle while fielding a Jahdiel Santamaria throw to first for the first out of the fourth. He was helped off the field by the trainer and had his left ankle heavily taped and wasn’t certain when he’d be back.

Stepping up in his place was Staten Island’s Andy Shive, who came on in a difficult situation and did a splendid job holding the Birds at three runs while giving his teammates the opportunity to get back in the game.

“I’ve never really been in that kind of situation before. But it’s you get as many warmups as you need. You just get out there and have to get focused and get some outs,” the righthander remarked after working an effective two and two thirds scoreless while fanning three to pickup his first win.

“It felt good in warmups. I just needed to locate and I did a pretty good job in the early innings and my job was just to keep the team in the game. That’s what I tried to do.”

“That’s got to be a really tough situation to come into. You got to warm up right there on the mound. He spun it pretty well and kept everything outside. I thought he did a pretty good job tonight,” added third baseman Mike Lyon who had a big hit of his own in the comeback driving in the Bombers’ second run. 

After Shive came on to record the final couple of outs of the fourth, the Bombers got going with a little help from some shoddy Aberdeen defense. S.I. shortstop Walter Ibarra got the home half started with the club’s first hit of the night off losing starter Aaron Odom (1-2). He moved to second when second baseman David Adams walked. Catcher Brian Baisley followed with what looked like a potential 6-4-3 double play ball but instead Birds’ shortstop Tom Edwards booted it allowing Ibarra to round third and cut the deficit to 3-1.

Lyon then came up and hit a sharp grounder which got through to left for a runscoring single to keep the rally going. “I thought maybe I was going to hit into a double play but it was just off to the left and so it worked out for me.”

The biggest hit of the inning came three batters later when Brewer ripped an Odom offering just out of Edwards’ reach plating two with the bases loaded a couple of batters following an E4 by Aberdeen’s Eric Perlozzo. He also had a clean takeout of second on Steve Strausbaugh’s RBI forceout which allowed center fielder Melky Mesa to score the fifth run.

Despite not getting a hit in four at bats, Mesa played a pivotal role in the Bombers’ third straight win with the defensive play of the night throwing out Jacob Julius after a Calvin Lester single to center to end the Aberdeen sixth.

“I felt pretty good about it that I was able to come through for the team,” the 21 year-old said through translator Julio Mascarra. “I got a good jump on the ball for the throw and got him.”

The Bombers put the game out of reach with four more in the seventh. Brewer started it off by singling, then advancing to second on a Strausbaugh groundout and then went to third on a failed pickoff. With runners on the corners, he came into score on Rich Zagone’s wild pitch giving the S.I. Yanks a three-run lead. Ibarra added to the lead with a runscoring base hit to center.

“It all started with Brewer that inning. He had a huge two RBI single and then you had Walter with a clutch hit. I mean everybody was pretty much clutch and I came up in a big situation,” Adams noted of the balanced attack after padding the cushion to six with a two-run double to deep center which didn’t miss going out of the park by much.

“It’s just a matter of time before we snap out of it. I mean we’ve been hitting balls hard all year. Just right at people. It was a matter of time before they fall. … We’re seeing the ball well. We’re taking good swings. It’s just a matter of letting them fall through.”

Notes: Despite being outhit 9-6, the Baby Bombers made the most out of three Aberdeen miscues in recording their first sweep of the season to boost their record over .500 (8-7) for the first time this season. … RP Tim Dennehy came on for Shive in the seventh and tossed two perfect frames while striking out four. Daniel Kapala made his first appearance giving up an unearned run on a hit while fanning two including the last batter swinging to end the game. … Unlike prior games this summer, the contest took only a manageable two hours and 27 minutes. … Ibarra finished 2-for-4 hitting leadoff while scoring two runs. Seven of Staten Island’s nine starters scored at least once. … Inf Brian Chavez (lower back) said he’s still a few days away and could return possible later this week. … Staten Island hosts Mahoning Valley for three beginning tonight with first pitch at 7 ET.

STATEN ISLAND, NY- Three rain delays in less than 24 hours didn’t deter the Staten Island Yankees. Instead, they were up to the challenge sweeping a doubleheader from Aberdeen Monday before 4,111 who stuck it out at Richmond County Bank Ball Park by the Ferry Terminal.

“Anytime you can sweep a doubleheader, it’s a real good win,” said DH Brian Baisley in the winner’s locker room after delivering a key two out RBI single capping off a three-run fifth to break a scoreless tie in Game Two. “[Pat Egan] made some real good pitches. Kept it down. Kept us in check for four or five innings. But once we got it going, opened the floodgates.”

“Our pitchers have been throwing well. We haven’t been putting it together. So hopefully, this will get us in the right direction and put together some games where we score a few runs.“

The losing Ironbirds’ starter didn’t allow a hit through four but Staten Island first baseman Erik Lovett’s leadoff hit in the home fifth got the Bomber offense untracked. After Jahdiel Santamaria pinchran for him,  shortstop Walter Ibarra sacrificed the runner into scoring position. Egan nearly escaped by recording the second out freezing second baseman Ryan Wilkes for his seventh strikeout of the night. 

But a huge turning point took place when center fielder Ray Kruml drove a two strike pitch up the middle for the game’s first run. Following Calvin Lester’s late throw home, Aberdeen catcher Chad Durakis tried to peg a hustling Kruml at second. Instead, his errant throw went past Lester allowing the same man who drove home the first run to come all the way around and score for a stunning 2-0 lead.

“I was just running making sure [Santamaria] was going to score. Trying to get in a rundown and cut it off but luckily he threw it away and the center fielder was out of position. So I was able to score on the play,” an elated Kruml pointed out of the bizarre play.

Third baseman Braedyn Pruitt kept the two out rally going with the hardest hit of the inning driving an Egan pitch into the right field corner for a two-base hit. Aberdeen reliever Tim Spooneybarger came on to try to get Baisley but the veteran went the opposite way placing a perfect single between second and right allowing Pruitt to score without a throw.

“That always helps. Especially after starting the doubleheader going 0-for-6,” noted Baisley. “It helps to get that RBI single.”

“It was a great win. Two today. A win’s great getting two today after a rainout yesterday is big,” rally starter Lovett stated. “Finally, I got us a hit. … I guess it was contagious. A couple of guys on. Got some runs in. Put the ball in play and making plays.”

The pitching of Baby Bomber starter David Phelps allowed his teammates to stay deadlocked before they finally got it going. In his third outing, the 21 year-old Notre Dame product bounced back from a subpar game against the very same team by tossing zeroes and going six for his longest and most impressive start thus far allowing just three hits while walking only one and fanning six.

“He was filthy. He threw a lot of first pitch strikes and was nasty. He had real good stuff,” praised Kruml of the starter who notched his first win of the summer.

“Phelps was great today,” Lovett added. “I think I heard somebody say I’m not positive but maybe 90 percent first strikes. That’s great. Phelps was phenomenal today. He did a great job out there on the mound.”

It was very good start to a six-game homestand. Something which wasn’t lost on Lovett:

“We got four more here. So we got to come out play tomorrow and just continue on. Hopefully, we’ll get some more wins here and gain some ground.”

Bombers take Game One despite long delay: In the opener which was continued from the second on, the Bombers took Game One 5-3. Trailing by a run in the third, left fielder Melky Mesa and Ibarra went back-to-back clearing the left field fence in support of Brad Rulon, who started the day by tossing three scoreless and K-ing three. 

But the Birds fought back by pushing across two runs in the seventh off S.I. reliever Jacinto Gonell on a Tom Baxter two-run two out single. After Ibarra singled home Dan Brewer to tie it, the rain came again delaying the action some more. In total, a game which took two hours and 28 minutes to complete was delayed three hours and 21 minutes.

When it resumed, the Bombers plated a couple in the eighth thanks to runscoring singles by Santamaria and Mesa. Closer Pat Venditte worked around a two out walk getting Baxter swinging for his third save.

Notes: Mesa, Ibarra and 2B David Adams each had a pair of hits in the first game with the first couple each finishing with a homer and two RBI’s. … The teams combined to leave 37 runners on (Abe-19, SI-18). … Infielders Addison Maruszak and Brian Chavez remained out due to injuries. … Baisley, Ibarra and Pruitt each started both games. … Josue Selenes came on to toss a scoreless seventh in the abbreviated second game getting Chad Durakis to groundout to short for his first save. He and Venditte both have perfect 0.00 ERA’s. … Bombers (7-7) aim for their first sweep of the season later tonight at St. George.

STATEN ISLAND, NY- Some late hustle helped the home club snap a tie score and end their two-game skid. Second baseman David Adams’ leadoff basehit in the eighth along with some smart baserunning allowed the Staten Island Yankees to pull out a well earned 4-3 win over Hudson Valley before 6,025 at Richmond County Bank Ball Park in St. George on Friday Fireworks Night sending the majority home happy.

“We made it exciting. Down to the wire. … I’d say we earned our chances,” echoed second-year corner infielder Braedyn Pruitt, whose successful sacrifice contributed to Adams’ winning run. “Well, you’re not hitting, you got to find other ways to help out.”

Deadlocked at three after the Renegades pushed across two runs in the fourth off Baby Bomber starter Casey Erickson, the hot bats finally were cooled off by each teams’ bullpen. Staten Island used three relievers to keep their pesky opponents at bay. Andy Shive, Jacinto Gonell and closer Pat Venditte combined for five scoreless while fanning six.

Erickson didn’t have his best stuff but was able to limit the damage in four innings despite allowing 10 hits. Shive took the ball and worked two middle frames without permitting a run scattering a couple of hits, a walk and fanning three including Michael Ross swinging to conclude his night.

After Gonell came on and tossed an effective seventh, the second-year Staten Island Yankee gave up a two out double to Hudson’s Jacob Jefferies putting the potential go-ahead run in scoring position. S.I. skipper Pat McMahon didn’t fool around calling on his two-armed specialist to get out of it. The plan paid immediate dividends when it took Venditte all of three pitches freezing Jason Appel with a nasty curve to end the threat.

With the game still knotted, it set the stage for Adams to spark his team. He ledoff with a clean single to left and was immediately sacrificed over by Pruitt. With Mike Lyon looking to get him in, Adams swiped his second base of the night taking third without a throw due to Hudson Valley backstop Mark Thomas mishandling a pitchout from losing reliever Marquis Fleming (0-1).

The righty then intentionally walked Lyon putting runners at the corners with an out to setup the double play. However, with pinch runner Jahdiel Santamaria in at first, the strategy backfired. Paying too much attention to the eventual key defensive first base sub, Fleming’s pickoff got away allowing Adams to score the winning run without a throw.

“We started off hot but then ran into some bad luck,” Lyon later explained in the winning locker room after coming in and manning the hot corner the final three innings after DH Brian Baisley was mysteriously kicked out by testy plate umpire Nick Mahrley for barely arguing a called out third strike during the home sixth. “But it ended out working out for us. The baseball gods were with us I guess.”

Still, the game was far from over due to a couple of miscues by the S.I. Yanks which put the win in jeopardy. The first two Renegades reached base safely on consecutive errors by Ryan Wilkes and Santamaria. When Robi Estrada successfully sacrificed the runners over, Hudson Valley was setup. But Venditte buckled down getting local Staten Island product Mike McKenna to pop out harmlessly to short for the second out.

The game then hung in the balance. Venditte forced Jason Corder into a grounder which he tipped to Wilkes, whose throw nearly pulled a diving Santamaria off the bag. Somehow, he managed to keep the foot on long enough to just get Corder for the final out giving the Bombers (4-5) an exciting win.

“That wasn’t an easy play at the end there,” Venditte (1-0) noted after picking up his first victory of the season before his family who was in town visiting. “He easily could’ve booted that ball and just packed it up. But he stuck with it and that was a great play to end the game.”

“That was big that we pulled that out. Pat did a good job shutting down after a couple of things behind him. It looked like that was a guaranteed run. Especially first and second no out in that situation but he did a great job. The defense did a good job behind him. It worked out in our favor tonight,” Lyon also pointed out.

“Good comeback after a couple of losses. Hopefully tomorrow, we can take the series and win two out of three in Hudson Valley.”

Notes: Despite only seven total runs, the teams combined for 24 hits and stranded a ton of runners. … Both SS/3B Brian Chavez and SS Addison Maruszak are out with injuries and won’t be expected back until some time next week. … Bombers scored the game’s first three runs in the first thanks to a Pruitt sac fly and RBI singles by Baisley and newcomer Jack Rye who played in right field finishing 2-for-3. … For Hudson Valley, Jefferies finished a perfect 4-for-4 with an RBI in a losing effort. … Renegade starter Tyree Hayes settled down following giving up three by tossing the final five scoreless and K-ing three to get a no-decision. … S.I. DH Dan Brewer also had a pair of hits. … Bombers released OF D.J. Hollingsworth to make room for SS Walter Ibarra. … Staten Island returns home Sunday to host Aberdeen for a 2 PM matinee on Military Appreciation Day as part of a six-game homestand.