Staten Island Yankee right fielder gets ready during first inning versus Brooklyn.

STATEN ISLAND, NY- Do the Cyclones have the Baby Bombers’ number? You won’t hear a peep from Brooklyn skipper Edgar Alfonzo, whose team got a big four-game weekend series off on the right foot by pitching their way past their Verrazano rival 3-2 before a seventh consecutive sellout (7,171) at Richmond County Bank Ball Park Friday night.

“That’s not true,” the veteran Brooklyn (23-21) manager modestly expressed outside the winner’s dugout after his team pulled within two along with Hudson Valley of the first place Bombers (25-19), who dropped their third straight while falling to 4-7 in the season series with three left. “They’re a good team. Sometimes, you take your chance when they make mistakes, you got to take your chance and score some runs like that. They are tough. They are tough to beat. They come at you until the last out every every game. They give me a headache sometimes.”

After the teams traded runs in the third and fourth, the game was still hanging in the balance when some wildness from Staten Island reliever Daniel Kapala contributed to the Bombers’ demise in the seventh. The second-year right handed reliever started the frame by plunking Jason Jacobs and Jose Jimenez to quickly put himself in a bind. Following Eric Campbell’s successful sacrifice, some bad luck allowed the Cyclones to go ahead when a Kirk Nieuwenhuis swinging bunt was fielded too late by first baseman Jahdiel Santamaria allowing Jacobs to score from third.

With runners on the corners, Staten Island manager Pat McMahon went to reliever Drew Shetrone but with Sean Ratliff batting, he uncorked a wild pitch allowing a second run to come in.

On a night in which the Bomber bats were silenced with runners on base, they didn’t go away easily as hot hitting designated hitter Brian Baisley went to the opposite field in the home half for his club-leading fifth home run off Brooklyn lefty reliever Roy Merritt. The ball just cleared the right field fence out of a leaping John Servidio’s reach to cut the lead to 3-2.

Merritt settled down to get the final two and pitched into the ninth after getting Santamaria to bounce into an inning ending 6-4-3 twin killing. He started the inning by getting struggling center fielder Ray Kruml chasing a pitch out of the zone. However, the Bombers mounted a rally thanks to consecutive line drive singles from shortstop Addison Maruszak and second baseman David Adams putting the tying and winning runs on first and second.

That’s when Alfonzo wisely went to closer Yury Santana, who had his work cut out for him facing Baisley and solid hitting third baseman Mike Lyon. It didn’t matter because Santana brought a wicked slider which he used to get Baisley swinging on a 2-2 pitch and then quickly got Lyon behind 0-2 on balls down and away before he hit a soft liner right to second baseman J.R. Voyles to end matters.

“It was tough,” Lyon lamented. “That kid’s got a pretty good slider. I knew he was trying to get ahead of me with the slider and I kept pulling off it. And then the last one, I made contact just knocking it down. I came up at the end and swung down. It started up and in. And I just started getting concerned about it coming into my hands like a fastball. Just went back up and ended up getting it off the end.”

“That was a good game. That was some good pitching from both sides. That was a good game. It was a good win,” a happy Alfonzo noted. “[Santana] did well. He did well. He threw a couple of good sliders and a couple of change ups. He pitched away and threw the breaking ball and threw strikes.”

“Very tough,” was how Maruszak described his club’s close defeat after finishing with a pair of hits but failing to get a runner in from third with one out in the home sixth due to a 5-2 fielder’s choice. “We battled them the whole way. So did they. It was a grind for both teams.”

The Bombers got pretty good pitching from starter David Phelps, whose only mistake in five innings was a Matt Smith two out home run to right in the third which gave the Cyclones a 1-0 lead. His teammates got it back for him in the fourth cashing in on some shoddy D. Adams singled and advanced to second on a Chris Schwinden wild pitch. The Brooklyn starter made more of a mess for himself with an errant toss during a fielder’s choice allowing both runners to arrive safely with an out.

Lyon, who a couple of frames earlier got caught napping off second atoned with a sac fly. However, it turned into a bizarre 7-6-4 double play when Ratliff relayed to Smith, who then tossed to Voyles, who applied the tag on Baisley to end the inning.

“We made a couple of mistakes throughout the whole game that could’ve put us right back in the ballgame,” the third baseman said after a 1-for-3 RBI night. “It was a couple of key situations with hard hit balls and mental lapses. I had a mental lapse getting picked off second. I didn’t realize how far off second base I was and ended up getting picked.”

That was all they could manage against Schwinden, who tossed an effective six yielding just an unearned run on four hits walking nobody and striking out seven for his first win.

“You have to tip a cap to [Schwinden]. Their pitcher commanded both sides of the plate very well with his fastball and that makes his offspeed that much better. He did a good job,” praised Maruszak.

“[Phelps] did the same thing and unfortunately, we lost tonight because we had not very good hitting. We had chances to. They had three errors but we didn’t capitalize on them. … I got up there with a runner on third and one out and grounded out. That’s not good. I should have - Should have. Could have. Would have. But it’s part of the game. Hopefully, next time I can come through again.”

Instead, their comeback bid fell short and now they’ll look to rebound later today in Keyspan Park.

“We just got to bounce back from today’s game,” Maruszak pointed out. We play them three more times. So, hopefully, we can get the next three and that would be nice to put them three more behind us.

“That’s what we’re going to plan on doing and keep battling through for the rest of the season.”

Notes: Phelps went five allowing a run on three hits walking nobody and striking out four to get a no-decision. … Kapala fell to 1-1 working an inning and a third giving up two earned on one hit with the two hit batsmen proving costly. … Despite a wild pitch which turned into the winning run charged to Kapala, Shetrone put up zeros for two and two thirds on two hits fanning a pair. … Maruszak and Adams, who hit 1-2 in the order paved the way with multi-hit nights finishing with four of the team’s seven on the night. … Merritt went 2.1 IP giving up one earned on three hits while walking the only batter for either side and whiffing four. In fact, BK pitchers fanned 12 while S.I. pitchers issued no walks with six K’s. … S.I. stranded 10 while BK left eight. … The contest took a very manageable two hours and thirty five minutes before a 13th sellout. … Game Two is later tonight in Coney Island with Old-Timer’s Day preluding a 6 PM start on Sunday back at the Ferry Terminal.

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- 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- The stage was set. He had a chance to be the hero but ultimately came up short striking out swinging with the bases packed and two outs in the home ninth in a recent Staten Island Yankee 3-1 loss to Oneonta. As the traditional Friday night fireworks bombarded the sky, there sat Ray Kruml in the dugout thinking the tough at bat through as he took in the lighting show.

Before he went back into the locker room, skipper Pat McMahon pulled the first-year Baby Bomber center fielder aside telling him how much he admired his approach. He still put together a quality at bat working the count full before swinging and missing at a Lester Oliveros outside heater to end it which was why McMahon was reinforcing the positives despite the end result.

“He got me down 0-2 right away. 1-2. You know. It was a battle. Caught me chasing a pitch that might’ve been outside. I tip my cap to him. It was a good pitch,” the 22 year-old Lisle, Illinois native later expressed.

Kruml hasn’t gotten beat often while batting leadoff the majority of his 19 games hitting a solid .318 (21-for-66) with eight RBI’s, 12 runs scored and eight stolen bases providing the kind of spark needed from a No.1 hitter. Thus far, he’s made the necessary adjustments from college to the pros.

“It’s a little different,” he noted. “They just tell me to keep my same approach. Every ballgame. Ground balls. Line drives. Stuff like that. That’s always nice to hear. I can just keep doing what I’ve been doing. The coaches have helped me a lot helping me make the adjustment from college to pro ball.”

Of batting leadoff which is something he also did in college helping set the table, he said, “It’s a little tough facing pitchers for the first time if I don’t know anything about them. But I’ll try to do my best to give the guys a a good report when I get back to the dugout.”

Selected by the Yankees in the 11th round of the 2008 MLB Draft, the University of South Alabama product who never missed a game in two years while posting a .350 average with an impressive on-base percentage of .421 while pacing the Sun Belt with 31 stolen bases has adjusted well to pro ball. It’s his first time in New York but it hasn’t fazed him one bit.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” he said. “Especially lately. I think we’ve won 10 of our last 12 games. Something like that. It’s been fun. A lot of fun.”

One thing which hasn’t gone unnoticed is the kind of support Kruml and his new teammates have been getting. In fact, last Friday’s game was the sixth sellout already- one better than they managed all of last year.

“There’s been great support. We got great fans. It’s always nice playing on a Friday night with the fireworks. Everybody comes out and has a good time. It’s a real good atmosphere.”

Not only has he been able to enjoy playing in front of big crowds but also got a chance along with the rest of the team on a rare off day last Tuesday to visit legendary Yankee Stadium and take in the House That Ruth Built one time before it’s replaced by the new Stadium.

“That was awesome. Went to old Yankee Stadium and afterwards toured that along with the new Yankee Stadium show us all how everything’s being built. Just the foundation and everything’s up right now. And you could see how big the Stadium is up. It’s going to be real nice.”

“It gives you a little bit more motivation I guess. A new building. Billion dollar stadium. So, it’s a little extra incentive to push a little harder and reach our goals.”

As for being drafted and getting the chance to wear Yankee Pinstripes, the solid defensive center fielder who makes things happen with his speed replied emphatically, “It was unbelievable. Great feeling that day. Just sitting around waiting. My name popped up by the New York Yankees. It was a very happy day for me and my family.”

“I was just out playing some video games. Just checking the computer and then all of a sudden saw my name pop up with the Yankees. I was real excited. A few seconds later, I got a phone call.”

His family celebrated like you’d expect with a little home cooking.

“Yeah. My parents gave me a little barbecue. A lot of my parents’ friends are Boston fans. So put the Boston jerseys on and gave me some crap for it. But it was all in good fun.”

While he’s playing for the more well known New York baseball team, that surprisingly wasn’t the case for Kruml who grew up in the Windy City rooting for the sister White Sox.

“I had to trade the black and white pinstripes for the navy and white. It’s a good trade though,” he quipped with a big grin.

Kruml had good success in college going from a junior college All-American to All-Second Team in the Sun Belt while starring for the Jaguars.

“It was a great experience playing two years at South Alabama. Great bunch of coaches. Great team. Had a lot of fun there,” he said. “It was a great opportunity and a great experience.”

“I played pretty well. It was fun. We had a good team. We just couldn’t put it altogether. Just didn’t have enough good pitching, good defense and great offense.”

One of five players from South Alabama selected, Kruml noted a little of the school’s recent draft history which produced the likes of outfielders Juan Pierre, Luis Gonzalez and Adam Lind.

“The previous year, there was two. I think the year before that, there was four. There’s a lot of guys that get drafted and a lot of guys who got good opportunities. Hopefully, they can excel real well.”

One notable difference from staying healthy and not missing a game is that now he has a little friendly competition with center fielder Melky Mesa, who also is getting his share of playing time. Kruml doesn’t seem to mind at all and understands the situation.

“I normally get my at bats. He gets his at bats. We get along real well. He’s a great guy. So we help each other out doing different things whether it’s outfield work or hitting. It’s a mutual respect even though we’re battling for the same position. But it’s a lot of fun.”

One key area which Kruml has adjusted well to is wooden bats. That can sometimes be a burden for drafted college players going from aluminum to wood but thus far hasn’t slowed down the center fielder at the plate.

“Every summer, I played in summer leagues where it’s all wood bats. I mean I’m not 100 percent used to it but I’m pretty used to it.”

As for how he views himself, Kruml assessed:

“Runs well. I guess a contact guy. Tries to draw walks. Will bunt. Stuff like that.”

As for who he tries to pattern himself after, the South Alabama alum stayed true to a player he admires.

“Like a Juan Pierre, Grady Sizemore type. Speedy centerfielders. … Certain guys like that Juan Pierre likes to bunt. Likes to put pressure on defenses. I try to look at him and try to play the way he plays.” 

So far. So good.

Today’s pics of the day come from last night’s Staten Island Yankee game taken versus the Oneonta Tigers over at the beautiful ball park by the Ferry Terminal:

STATEN ISLAND, NY- They kept on coming but ultimately fell short on the scoreboard. Despite a sixth sellout crowd of 7,171, the Staten Island Yankees couldn’t come up with the big hit leaving a plethora of runners on base in a tough 3-1 defeat to Oneonta at Richmond County Bank Ball Park in St. George on Friday Fireworks Night which also honored fathers.

“We just got to put it to the past. It’s tough to end a game like that,” lamented shortstop Addison Maruszak who returned from a leg injury and had a couple of hits including his first pro home run in the team’s second loss in the last three dropping the home series.

Having grounded into four double plays including a couple of inning enders, there were the first place Baby Bombers turning up the heat once again in their last licks loading the bases thanks to an E6 and a pair of walks with one out against Tigers’ closer Lester Oliveros. Standing in the way were two guys Staten Island skipper Pat McMahon didn’t mind having up there in such a big spot in Maruszak and center fielder Ray Kruml.

Oliveros had already blown away first baseman Erik Lovett getting him swinging on some high cheese. Up stepped Maruszak, who already looked comfortable in his first game back having provided the Bombers their only run. Here he was with a golden opportunity to tie the game with a hit. The count went to 3-1 but he couldn’t deliver fouling off an Oliveros offering before chasing an outside heater for the second out.

“He was nasty,” the first-year shortstop relayed to an equally disappointed teammate Kruml, who sat in the dugout and watched the fireworks before returning to his locker.

Kruml was Staten Island’s last chance for another two out comeback. The patient leadoff hitter worked the count full after being behind but swung and missed at another Oliveros’ fastball which might have been off the plate to end a frustrating night.

“We got down early. We fought back to 3-1. Had a couple of opportunities with runners in scoring position. We just couldn’t come up with a clutch hit. We battled hard. It just didn’t fall our way,” Kruml explained outside the locker room. 

“He got me down on two away. You know. It was a battle. Caught me chasing a pitch that might’ve been outside. I tip my cap to him. It was a good pitch.”

The Bombers fell behind early as the Tigers got the jump on losing starter David Phelps (2-1), scoring twice in the first on a Carlos Ramirez RBI groundout followed by a two out Wade Lamont sharp single to right.

Phelps eventually settled down coming back strong to retire 12 of the next 15 batters before serving up a two out fifth inning Brandon Douglas solo blast to left center which put the Tigers ahead 3-0.

His teammates had runners on all night but couldn’t cash in due to the four twin killings along with a couple of baserunning blunders including a weird DP that Maruszak grounded into where Oneonta shortstop Brandon Douglas missed second base on the relay getting only one out. Lovett was already off second thinking he was out and then got into a rundown before being tagged out 1-5-2 concluding the bizarre play in the third. Not surprisingly, Kruml followed with a two out single with nobody on and swiped second but second baseman David Adams ended the inning by taking a called third strike.

That was the kind of night it was. In the same inning that Maruszak went deep, catcher Mitch Abeita ledoff with a double but then was caught napping off second. After Lovett made the second out, Maruszak connected off winning Tigers’ starter David Stokes (2-1) with nobody on base driving a pitch over the left field fence to break up the shutout.

“When I came back today, I talked to a couple of people,” Maruszak mentioned.

“Tino [Martinez] talked to me. My advisor is Reggie Jefferson. He played. They both told me the same thing. Just try to go for the middle of the field. You know. Don’t try to do anything special cause you’ve been hurt. Just get a good swing off and hit it to the middle of the field and let things happen. That was good advice.”

Unfortunately, it was the only offense the Staten Island Yankees could muster. They’ll pack their bags and try to regroup for a weekend series upstate at Tri-City.

Notes: The Bombers left 17 baserunners on base while their opponents stranded 11. … The Oneonta home run hitter Douglas finished three-for-four with a couple of runs scored. … Ben Guez and Luis Arlet each had a pair of hits and a stolen base for the Tigers (13-11). … Maruszak was the only S.I. player to notch two hits getting two of the team’s seven. … With a hit in three trips, Adams finished the series 7-for-12 with three doubles, three runs scored and three RBI’s. … Kruml’s eight steals paces the team. … Maruszak and Adams also teamed up for a nice 6-4-3 DP with the shortstop reaching behind before flipping to the second baseman who made the turn with the runner right on him. … Phelps went five allowing three earned on six hits with a walk and three K’s. … RP Nick Asselin worked three scoreless while fanning four before Josue Selenes tossed a 1-2-3 ninth K-ing two to keep his perfect ERA intact. … The game took two hours and 42 minutes to complete before what became one more sellout than the five they had all last year. … Bombers (15-9) are back at it tonight for the first of three at Tri-City.

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- 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.”

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.