Staten Island Retakes Wild Card Lead

Yankees lead in Wild Card Standings thanks to win over Ironbirds

By: Robert Pimpsner

August 16, 2007 – The Staten Island Yankees retook the lead in the Wild Card race as they moved a game ahead of the Vermont Lake Monsters after a victory over the Aberdeen Ironbirds.  The Yankees were able to cash in on Aberdeen errors as 3 of the 9 Staten Island runs were unearned.

                The Baby Bombers were the first to score in the contest, plating 2 runs in the first inning.  Justin Snyder led the game off with a single to right.  Taylor Holiday then belted a ball to the third baseman, but an error allowed both runners to be safe.  Damon Sublett sent a fly ball to centerfield to allow Snyder to move to third with 1 out.  Taylor Holiday would then steal second, his 15^th on the season and places at fourth on the All-Time list (3 behind Wilmer Pino).  A Braedyn Pruitt ground out and David Williams single would score the 2 runs, giving Staten Island a 2-0 lead.

                Ryan Pope started the game for the Staten Island Yankees.  Pope pitched 5 innings to earn his first professional win.  The third round pick struck out 3 batters in the game and allowed just 1 earned run on 3 hits.  The 2 runs and 3 hits came in the third inning, were the ‘Birds were able to tie the game.  This was the second consecutive 5 inning game for the young right-hander, who was eased into the starting role over 6 starts.

                The game would not remain tied for long as the Yankees would plate another 2 runs in the fourth inning.  After Jose Gil led the inning off with a strikeout, Austin Krum singled to put a man on and 1out.  Then with 2 outs Krum stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Aberdeen catcher.  Isaiah Howes then slammed a 2-run shot over the left field wall for his second homerun on the season.

                The Yankees were not done scoring as they plated 2 in the sixth and seventh innings.  David Williams led the sixth off with a walk and then moved to scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Joes Gil.  Williams scored when Austin Krum belted his eighth double of the season on a ground ball to left.  Krum would move 90 feet away when Ryan Wehrle grounded out and score on Isaiah Howes fifth double.

                With 1 out in the seventh inning Damon Sublett walked and Braedyn Pruitt singled to put men on first and second.  David Williams then stepped up to the plate and belted his seventh double on a fly ball to right for an RBI.  With 2 men in scoring position Jose Gil would hit an RBI ground out to give the Yankees a 8-2 lead.

                Staten Island was not done yet as they plated their ninth run in the eighth inning.  Ryan Wehrle led the inning off with a ground ball single to center and then moved to second on a throwing error by the pitcher on a pick off attempt.  Isaiah Howes then reached on a fielding error by the Ironbirds’ third baseman to put 2 men on and no outs.  Wehrle would score when Taylor Holiday grounded into a double play putting the bombers ahead 9-2.

                The Ironbirds attempted a comeback in the eighth and ninth inning when they plated 3 runs to make the score 9-5, but Dan Kapala was able to hold them at bay.  Aberdeen and Staten Island will meet up tomorrow night for the final game of the series with Jason Stehpens scheduled to start.

Notes:  Nick Chigges pitched 2 shutout innings in relief allowing just 1 hit while striking out 5.  Of those 5 strikeouts, 4 of them came in the seventh.  The Yankees will return to New York Saturday for a 4 game home and home series with the Brooklyn Cyclones.