Bombers Go Deep Twice in Comeback Victory

Yanks come from behind to tie Lowell for Wild Card lead

By: Robert Pimpsner

August 2, 2007 – It was a beautiful evening by the bay as the Staten Island Yankees took on the Lowell Spinners in the first game of a three game set.  The Baby Bombers were able to spin off a victory in eleven innings to tie Lowell for the Wild Card.  The bombers first two runs of the game came off homers by Braedyn Pruitt and Taylor Holiday.

                Nick Chigges got the start for the Baby Bombers, his fourth of the season.  Chigges pitched 3.2 innings and allowed four runs on six hits while striking out three.  His worst inning was the first, when he walked Rafael Cabreja to start the game and then gave up a monstrous 2-run shot over the left field fence to Pedro Vasquez.

                The Yankees responded in their half of the first with a 2-out homerun by Braedyn Pruitt (3) to cut the lead to just 1 run.  The game would remain at 2-1 until the top of the fourth inning when Lowell would plate two more.  After a single, walk to put David Marks and Rafael Cabreja on base, Chigges have up an RBI single to Jorge Jimenez before being relieved by Jason Kiley.  Kiley then allowed a single to Michael Jones to plate the Spinners’ fourth run.

                Staten Island would put another run on the board in the sixth inning when Taylor Holiday went deep for his second homerun on the year.  Dan Kapala made his home debut pitching the ninth inning, but got into trouble with two outs and two men on base before inducing a ground ball for the ground out.

                In the ninth David Williams led off with a bunt single and Austin Krum led off on an error on the shortstop.  Chris Raber reached on another bunt single to load the bases with no outs.  DJ Hollingsworth pinched hit for Matt Morris and worked the count full before striking out.  Ryan Wehrle then pinched hit for Brian Chavez and got a 3-1 count before walking in the Yankees third run.  Next up to the plate was the team’s best hitter, Justin Snyder.  Snyder worked the count to the second consecutive 3-1 count before grounding out for the RBI and tying the game at 4.

                Jonathan Ortiz came in to pitch the tenth inning, after fly ball single to center by Yamaico Navarro.  He would steal second when Ty Weeden struck out, the inning would end on an amazing double play when David Marks belted a line drive right back to Ortiz and then turned around to get the runner off of second.

                Braedyn Pruitt led off the Yankee half working the count full before drawing a lead off walk to bring Jose Gil to the plate.  Gil then laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring Pruitt in scoring position.   After David Williams struck out, Isaiah Howes pinched hit for Austin Krum and then struck out to end the inning.

                Jonathan Ortiz came back out to pitch the eleventh inning and proceeded to hit the first batter, Luis Segovia who then advanced to second sacrifice bunt.  Segovia was then tagged out trying to advance to third before Pedro Vasquez flew out to second.

Leading off the bottom of the inning was Chris Raber, who then struck out to bring up DJ Hollingsworth.  Hollingsworth legged out a bunt that just got by the pitcher, he would move over to second when the pitcher threw into the stands on a pick off attempt.  The speedy outfielder moved 90 feet away from the plate on a wild pitch with a full count and one out before Ryan Wehrle walked.  With two men on and one out, Justin Snyder came to the plate.  Snyder was already 2 for 4 in the game when he belted a walk off single to win the game.

                These two teams will meet again tomorrow night at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark, with Adam Olbrychowski scheduled to take the mound for the bombers.  Tomorrow night’s game is sold out, but tickets are still available for Robinson Cano night this Saturday.