BATAVIA DROPS THIRD AND FINAL ROAD GAME

Niagara Falls, NY - Batavia drops third and final game of road trip to Niagara Falls, losing sole possession of first place in the West Division

Once again, the ballgame was shaping up to be a pitcher’s duel, with dominant Muckdogs All-Star Luc Rising taking on Luke Blandino. Rising has arguably been the best pitcher in all of the PGCBL, entering this start with a 24-inning scoreless streak.

This game had a lot riding on it. The Muckdogs were looking to maintain their spot atop the West Division, with the Tarpskunks just one game back. For the Americans, a win and an Elmira Pioneers loss would clinch a playoff spot.

The first inning was scoreless for both sides, with Luc Rising getting help from his left fielder, Sean Mindas, who made an incredible throw to gun down Ian Huang trying to stretch a single into a double.

After a 1-2-3 second inning for both Rising and Blandino, the Muckdogs caused some trouble in the top of the third. Batavia’s at-bats were improving against Blandino, driving up his pitch count and forcing two walks to James Bolton and Travis Hammond. The ever-present Tyler Castratoro came up clutch with a two-RBI single to give the Muckdogs a 2-0 lead.

Not to be outdone, the Americans got two runners on in the bottom of the inning via a walk and hit-by-pitch. Ian Huang drove in the Americans’ first run of the game with a single down the third base line, breaking up Rising’s mind-boggling 26-inning scoreless streak. Not enough can be said about how dominant he’s been this year. The Americans weren’t done in the inning, as an errant throw back to first base by Rising allowed another run to score, tying the game at 2-2.

Due to the Muckdogs driving up Blandino’s pitch count, he was replaced in the 4th inning by CJ Hurley. The southpaw has been a reliable arm for the Americans all year, logging 33 innings pitched in relief for Niagara Falls. Hurley and Rising both tossed scoreless 4th innings.

The top of the 5th was more of the same from Hurley, but it spelled trouble for Rising. A knock and stolen base by Carmen Pinaro, along with a walk to Allen Ramos, put two runners on for the Muckdog killer, Ian Huang. Huang delivered again, ripping another single to bring in two runs and give the Americans a 4-2 lead. That marked the end of Rising’s day as lefty Evan Hollandsworth came into the game in relief. After a wild pitch, Gavin Boyle sent a shot into left-center that was misplayed by Travis Hammond, allowing another run to score and extending the Americans’ lead to 5-2.

After a blisteringly fast 6-pitch inning by CJ Hurley, the Americans struck again in the bottom of the 6th. A knock by Christopher Guzaldo started the frame, and Nick Paszt hustled with a headfirst slide into first base to reach safely, putting two runners on for Carmen Pinaro. Pinaro put the ball in play, and a Justin Espinal error at first base proved costly, as Guzaldo came around to score, pushing the Americans’ lead to 6-2.

After going quiet since the 3rd inning, the Batavia lineup exploded in the top of the 7th. Hits by Jackson Inman and James Bolton put two ducks on the pond before Justin Espinal crushed a ball into left-center field for a bases-clearing triple. A massive momentum shift cut the Americans’ lead to 6-4. Travis Hammond kept the rally going with a single to left to drive in Espinal and shrink the deficit to 6-5. Caleb Walker then reached on a misplay at first by Americans first baseman Greydon Miller. That would end CJ Hurley’s relief outing, with a final line of 3.1 innings pitched, 7 hits, and 5 earned runs.

Americans reliever Robert Leach entered the game with two runners on and Brayden Horton at the plate. Horton delivered immediately, driving in Hammond and completing the comeback to tie the game 6-6. The Muckdogs weren’t finished. A Cooper Fesh sacrifice fly brought in another run, giving Batavia a 7-6 lead. Leach would get out of the inning one batter later, stopping the bleeding.

Erwins Branche relieved Hollandsworth in the bottom of the 7th. Hollandsworth’s final line: 1.2 innings pitched, 4 hits, 1 unearned run, and 1 strikeout. Branche’s first inning went smoothly, giving up just one hit and maintaining the 7-6 Muckdogs lead.

In the top of the 8th, the Muckdogs threatened again with another extra-base hit from Justin Espinal, putting runners on second and third with two outs. Leach buckled down and induced a flyout from Travis Hammond to end the rally. Branche returned to the mound for the bottom of the 8th, but things unraveled quickly.

A leadoff walk to Nick Paszt turned into trouble when Branche made an errant pickoff throw, allowing Paszt to take third. On the next at-bat, Connor Kiefer hit a sac fly to deep left field, scoring Paszt and tying the game at 7-7. The Americans smelled blood. Carmen Pinaro followed with a liner to right that took a strange bounce, landing him a triple. In the next at-bat, Allen Ramos grounded to third, catching Pinaro in a rundown. In an unfortunate sequence, Pinaro avoided the tag by Inman, reached back to third base, and Ramos advanced to second, leaving two runners in scoring position.

That ended Branche’s day with 1.1 innings pitched, 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout. Ian Huang struck again, this time hitting a ball to Justin Espinal, whose throw home was late, allowing another run to score and giving the Americans the lead back at 8-7. A Gavin Boyle sac fly increased the lead to 9-7 heading into the 9th.

Robert Leach returned to the mound in the top of the 9th and shut the door, securing a hard-fought 9-7 home win for Niagara Falls over the Batavia Muckdogs.

With the loss, Batavia’s record moves to 27-13-1 on the season. With Jamestown’s win the Muckdogs slip into 2nd place in the West Division. Niagara Falls with the win moves to 27-16 on the season. There are only 4 games left in the season and the playoff race is getting exciting!

The Muckdogs are back in action today, July 24rd, as they take on the Auburn Doubledays at home. The game begins at 6:30 PM and will be livestreamed on the Batavia Muckdogs YouTube Channel. The Muckdogs return home on Thursday, July 24th, at 6:30 PM versus the Elmira Pioneers. Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to receive a free team photo of all your favorite Muckdogs players! 

You don’t want to miss it! Tickets start as low as $9. 
To purchase tickets or learn more information, please call (585) 524-2260 or visit our website at www.canusamuckdogs.com.