McAllister Impressive in Home Debut

Z-Mac shutout the Auburn Doubledays for six innings in home debut

By: Robert Pimpsner

July 11, 2007 - After an hour and twenty-four minute rain delay the Staten Island Yankees and Auburn Doubledays finally got underway at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark.  Yankees pitching prospect Zach McAllister was on the mound for the baby bombers, making his first start at home this season.

            McAllister breezed through the first inning, striking out the first two batters swinging before inducing a ground out to short.  He struck out the lead off batter in the second and got the next batter to ground out.  With two outs, Auburn’s Adam Calderone reached base on a blooper to center.  After stealing second, McAllister picked him off with a great move to second.  McAllister struck out the first batter in the third for his fourth strike out of the night.  He went on to strike out the side in the fourth, the first two batters in the fifth and the final batter in the sixth for ten strike outs in the game, setting a season high.  McAllister’s pitched six innings, giving up just three hits to nineteen batters faced and did not allow a walk.

            The Yankees got something going in the third inning; Isaiah Howes lead off with walk.  With Howes on base, Austin Krum belted a single to center, Howes to advance to third and Krum to moved to second on an error by the centerfielder.  A Justin Snyder doubled allowed both runners to score, giving them a 2-0 lead over Auburn.  With one out Damon Sublett stepped to the plate and on a strike on the inside half of the plate Snyder stole third on a close play.  On the next pitch Sublett knocked a base hit over the first baseman’s head bringing the Yankee lead to 3-0.  Jose Gil popped out to left and Dave Williams stepped into the batters box and struck out looking.

Williams led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to center and advanced to second when Taylor Holiday laid down a bunt, but was called out at first on a very close play.  Matt Morris grounded out to third but Williams came home to score on an error by the third baseman putting the Yankees up 4-0

            John Axford came in the game in the seventh, Axford like McAllister made his first appearance at home on the year.  Axford continued the Yankees strike out parade, striking out Manual Rodriguez and CJ Ebarb to end the seventh.  Axford struck out the third batter in the eighth with men at the corners.  After a wild pitch Axford walked the bases loaded and with a full count on Darin Mastroianni walked him to give the Doubledays their first run of the game.  Manager Mike Gillespie took the long walk to the mound and brought in Jason Kiley.  Kiley struck out the next two batters to get out of trouble.

            Jonathan Ortiz made his 2007 baby bomber debut pitching the ninth inning.  Ortiz gave up a double to center on his fourth pitch and then proceeded to strike out CJ Ebarb for the first out.  A bunt on the left side of the infield fielded by the pitcher made it two outs with a man on third.  Ortiz walked the next batter, who then advanced to second a defensive indifference a base hit to left center put the game with in one run.  A ground ball to third ended the game.  McAllister got the win with Jonathan Ortiz getting the save.

            The Yankees and Doubledays will meet again tomorrow morning as Jeff Karstens will be making a rehab start.  Ryan Zink and Adam Olbrychowski are also scheduled to pitch.  The two teams will finish the season on Friday night with Nick Chigges on the hill for the bombers.