Yankees Heal Monster Bite

Baby Bombers take series behind Z-Mac

By: Robert Pimpsner

July 16, 2007 - It was a chilly night at the ballpark by the bay as the Staten Island Yankees and the Vermont Lake Monsters faced off in the rubber game of a three game set.  The bombers were looking to take the series and end their six game home stand on a high note.

            Leading the Yankees in their quest for the win was top pitching prospect Zach McAllister.  McAllister has been impressive lately and has lowered his era to 3.49 with his five-inning performance.  In those five innings he allowed just one run on three hits while striking out five batters.

            Vermont was the first to score when they were able to bring a man home in the second.  They had a chance to score again in the third as with the bases load and two outs.  McAllister then proceeded to strike out the next batter to get out of the inning.

            The Yankees would come to tie the game in the fourth inning.  Taylor Holiday lead the inning off with a single but was erased after Damon Sublett hit into a force out.  Sublett scored the first Yankees run on a Braedyn Pruitt double to right field.

            The bombers were not done scoring as they exploded for four runs in the sixth inning.  Braedyn Pruitt led off with a line drive single to left and then advanced to second when Jose Gil walked.  Austin Krum then hit into a force attempt at second but the short stop booted the ball which allowed all runners to be safe.  After a strike out by Isaiah Howes, DJ Hollingsworth then hit into an RBI ground out.  A walk to Chris Raber would load the bases once more.  Justin Snyder, the team leader in several offensive categories, then belted a single to right plating two runners.  Taylor Holiday walked to load the bases again and a passed ball gave them a 5-1 lead.

            Damon Sublett made an amazing catch, diving to catch a line drive for the first out in the eighth inning.  Sublett’s catch was not the only great play in the inning as Justin Snyder made a great catch to end the inning.

            The Yankees would go to the pen in the sixth inning as John Axford came in.  Axford pitched three innings but was pulled in the ninth inning after giving up two consecutive walks.  He had four walks with three strike outs while allowing no hits.  Jason Kiley came in the ninth and blew the save with two outs. 

            Justin Snyder led off the bottom of the ninth with a double right over the left fielder’s head.  Taylor Holiday then bunted into a fielder’s choice but no out was made as the Yankees now had men at the corners with no outs and an intentional walk to Damon Sublett loaded the bases for Braedyn Pruitt.  Pruitt worked out a walk to give the bombers the victory.

            The bombers head to Niles, Ohio tomorrow to take on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers for three games.  Slated to pitch in the series for the bombers are Ryan Zink, Adam Olbrychowski and Ryan Pope.  The bombers will return home on Friday to host the State College.