Batavia goes deep to beat Scrappers

August 21, 2010 at 12:06a.m.

By Greg Gulas

NILES

Batavia played long ball early, rapping out six extra base hits, including two home runs, as the Muckdogs defeated the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 6-4, in a New York-Penn League baseball game on Friday at Eastwood Field.

For the second consecutive night, Batavia (33-25) shot out to a commanding lead and then had to hold on as they took two of three contests from their Pinckney Division rival.

“It’s always important to come to Mahoning Valley, or anywhere else in the league for that matter and win the series,” said Muckdogs manager Dann Bilardello.

“We got the early lead the last two nights but I knew that they wouldn’t give up. For lack of a better word, they’re a scrappy bunch.

“Travis [Fryman] does a great job with his team so any win here is a good win as far as I am concerned,” said Bilardello.

The Scrappers did take the early lead when shortstop Nick Bartolone doubled in the opening frame, scoring the first run of the game when Chase Burnette followed with a run-scoring single; his 28th RBI of the season.

Mahoning Valley (25-35) then proceeded to load the bases with two outs, but failed in their attempt to plate another run during a 39-pitch opening inning for Muckdogs starter Nicholas McCully.

Scrappers starting pitcher Alex Kaminsky (5-4), one of two Mahoning Valley all-star selections this season, set down the first five batters that he faced but with two outs in the second, Batavia’s Jonathan Rodriguez launched a rocket over the left field fence; his team-tying eighth round tripper of the season which knotted the game at 1-all.

“I was thinking fastball and he [Kaminsky] put it right down the middle for me. We needed to come in here and take at least two games in order to keep pace with Jamestown and Williamsport in the division,” said Rodriguez.

“We have a big six-game series with Williamsport coming up so we will head to there place beginning tomorrow with much needed momentum,” he added.

The Muckdogs took the lead for good in the third inning when they sent 10 batters to the plate; the first five reaching safely with hits en route to a five-run inning and a 6-1 margin.

Yunier Castillo singled to open the inning, advancing to third on Christopher Edmonson single.

Joey Bergman then followed with a double, scoring Castillo and when Nicholas Longmire doubled scoring Edmonson and Bergman, Batavia took a 4-1 lead.

Victor Sanchez then deposited a Kaminsky fastball over the left field fence scoring Longmire. That staked Batavia to a five-run advantage.

It was Sanchez’s second homer and 23rd RBI of the season as the Muckdogs chased Kaminsky from the mound.

“I was looking curveball because that is mostly what I was seeing throughout the series,” said Sanchez. “When I saw the offspeed pitch coming, I was able to turn on it and lift it out of the park.”

Mahoning Valley cut into the Batavia lead by scoring three runs in the fourth, chasing McCully to pull to within two at 6-4.

A triple by Aaron Fields plated Brian Heere and Tyler Cannon to account for the first two runs while an RBI single by leadoff batter Carlos Moncrief accounted for the other Scrappers’ tally.

That would be the end of the scoring as Batavia could manage just three runners after the fourth inning and the Scrappers just four after the fifth inning.

“The big inning beat us for the second night in a row. We just couldn’t get past it,” said Fryman.

“Alex [Kaminsky] has pitched well for us all season long but I thought he looked a little tired tonight.

“In terms of positives, our bullpen did an excellent job. They didn’t give up a run, allowed just two hits and struck out seven. That was great to see,” Fryman said.

Mahoning Valley will travel to State College tonight for the first of a three-game set with the Spikes.

BataviaScrappers

abrhbiabrhbi

Edmnsn dh5110Moncrief rf5031

Brgman 2b5111Bartolone ss5110

Lngmire cf5112Burnette 1b5011

Snchez 1b3112Aguilar dh4010

Melker rf4000Seastrunk c2000

Rdrgez 3b3111Heere lf3110

Biserta lf3020Cannon 3b3100

O’Nill pr-lf0000Baker cf4000

J.Castillo c3010Fields 2b3112

Yu.Cstllo ss4110

Totals35696Totals34484

Batavia015000000—6

Scrappers100300000—4

E—J.Castllo (2). DP—Batavia 2, Scrappers 1. LOB—Batavia 6, Scrappers 9. 2B—Biserta (5), Bergman (11), Longmire (9), J.Castillo (4), Bartolone (2), Moncrief (10). 3B—Fields (1).HR—Rodriguez (8), Sanchez (2). .

IPHRERBBSO

Batavia

McCully3 1-364432

Summers W, 2-12 1-320022

Wright H, 11 1-300002

Reid H, 31 00000

Butler S, 4100003

Scrappers

Kaminsky L, 5-42 2-376612

Wetmore3 1-310023

Goryl2 10002

Dickerson100002

WP—Wetmore, Goryl. HBP—by Wright (Seastrunk), by Wetmore (Sanchez). Umpires—Home, Roberto Ortiz; Bases, Dane Ratajski. T—2:59. A—3,456.