MUCKDOGS ARE FIRST IN THE WEST

Following a successful double header against the Niagara Ironbacks on Sunday June 29th, the Muckdogs looked to continue this success and extend to a 4-game winning streak. With a final score of 5-3, Batavia expands their record to 16-8, tying the Niagara Falls Americans for 1st place. The Ironbacks continue to stay in last place, with a current record of 3-20.

In an offensive showing, the Muckdogs put up 5 runs on 12 total hits, with Sean Mindas leading the way. Going 4 for 4 in his at bats, including 1 extra base hit, 1 RBI, and 2 stolen bases, Mindas showed out for the fans tonight, definitely fulfilling his duties as Tully’s hit-man of the game. Other notable players tonight include Tyler Castrataro (2 hits, 1 RBI), Brian Fry (1 RBI), and Omar Carreras (1 RBI).

Cole Taylor started on the mound tonight, throwing 5.0 innings, giving up only 4 hits, with 3 runs (2 earned) and secured himself the win for the night. In Relief, Jake Szlis came into the bottom of the 6th inning in a particular situation, with bases loaded and nobody out. He pitched himself out of this jam, with an extra nod to Brian Fry for an exciting double play. Szlis went on to throw 3 hitless innings. In the top of the 9th, Garret Beaver went in to close the game, recording 3 strikeouts and putting up a save under his name.

In the first at-bat of the game, Brayden Horton came out slinging with a lead-off triple. Omar Carreras came up next with an RBI single, earning the Muckdogs their first run of the game in just 2 plate appearances. Later in the inning, Sean Mindas recorded an RBI single to start off his day of perfection.  

Jumping to the 4th inning, Mindas comes up again with another single in his 2nd at bat, becoming the first of 3 baserunners for Batavia this inning. Brian Fry’s RBI single helped Mindas reach home plate from 2nd base, and Fry ended up scoring himself due to a wild pitch later in the inning. The lead was extended to 3, with the inning ending at 4-1.

2 innings later in the 6th, Cole Taylor ended his time on the mound with only 2 earned runs, with Szlis picking up the ball in somewhat of a jam, as stated earlier. He was able to get us out of that situation, and we had another successful inning on the offensive side, including another hit by Mindas followed by an RBI double by Tyler Castrataro. By the end of the 6th, the score was 5-3.

The 8th and 9th innings went as expected when compared to the rest of this game, with Jackson Inman getting a solid hit plus another Mindas hit (this time a double) in the bottom of the 8th. Szlis finished his time pitching with no runs scored in 3 total innings, and Garret Beaver came in as the relief pitcher for tonight. Nothing else major happened though, and the Muckdogs closed the game out; beating the Ironbacks 5-3.