Bombers Bats Explode in Victory

Yankees bats exploded for 12 hits in the second game of a three game set with Oneonta

By: Robert Pimpsner

July 25, 2007 – The Staten Island Yankees’ bats exploded for 12 hits in the second game of the three game set with the Oneonta Tigers.  Ryan Pope made his second official start for the Staten Island Yankees; Pope lasted three innings in the contest, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out two.  Only three out of the four runs were earned, with two runs coming off a homerun by Kody Kaiser in the third inning.

Staten Island fell behind early when the Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.  Kody Kaiser led off with a triple to center field, and then an RBI ground out by Justin Henry gave the Tigers the lead.

The game would become tied in the top of the second; David Williams led off with a double on a ground ball to left.  Luis Nunez grounded out to second, while Williams moved to third.  DJ Hollingsworth then placed a bunt down to the pitcher for a base hit and an RBI.

The bombers were up to their tricks again in the third inning, when Justin Snyder led off with a walk and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Holiday.  A single by Damon Sublett would plate Snyder and give the Yankees the lead.    Sublett would move 90 feet from the plate after Braedyn Pruitt singled to right and then score when David Williams grounded out to third.

The Tigers would take the lead once again in their half of the third, Kody Kaiser had a one out, and two run single to tie the game.  After the homerun, Justin Henry and Ron Bourquin singled to put runners are first and second.  Yankees third baseman Brian Chavez then committed a throwing error and the bases were loaded.  Devin Thomas was called out on an infield pop up when the infield fly rule was called.  The third run of the inning came when Cory Middleton singled to left.

Oneonta’s lead would not last very long as the Yankees responded with a big inning of their own in the top of the fourth.  DJ Hollingsworth led off being hit by the pitch and Brian Chavez made up for his error with a double to left that put two men in scoring position.  Frank LoNigro then hit a sharp ground ball to the pitcher for an infield single and an RBI while Brian Chavez moved to third.  Chavez would then score when Justin Snyder had a sacrifice fly to left.  LoNigro would put his cleat on the plate when Taylor Holiday belted a line drive to center for a triple.  Damon Sublett singled to left to plate Holiday and then moved to third on a Braedyn Pruitt single.  Oneonta pitcher Luis Gil then committed a throwing error on a pick off attempt that allowed Sublett to score.

Both teams will put a one spot on the scoreboard in the seventh inning, the Yankees scored when Braedyn Pruitt knocked his first homerun on a fly ball to right field.  Jason Stephens made his Staten Island Yankees return coming in relief.  Stephens pitched five innings of two hit ball, and allowed just one run while striking out two.

The Tigers and Yankees will close the series out tomorrow night with Chris Farley making his second appearance for Staten Island.  After they conclude the series with the Tigers, the baby bombers will head to Troy, NY for a three game series with the Tri-City Valley Cats.