Bombers Take Game Three on Cano Night

Yankees retire Cano's number 17 prior to victory over the Lowell Spinners

By: Robert Pimpsner

August 4, 2007 – A crowd of 5,031 filled the stands at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark for Robinson Cano Night and the rubber game between the Staten Island Yankees and the Lowell Spinners.  Prior to the game the Staten Island Yankees retired Cano’s number 17 and the Borough President named August 4 as Robinson Cano Day in the borough of Staten Island.

                After the ceremonies Ryan Pope took the mound for his fourth official start of the year.  Pope, the Yankees third round pick in this past June’s draft went 4.2 innings and allowed 2 Spinners to score but neither were earned.  He struck out 4 batters and walked just 1 on 82 pitches, however was not able to record the win.

                Staten Island was the first to get on the board, plating a run in the bottom of the first inning.  Taylor Holiday singled to left with one out, then stole second and reached third on a throwing error by the Lowell catcher.  Damon Sublett, the team leader in RBIs, belted a sacrifice fly to centerfield.  The Bombers would plate one more run in the third inning to give them a 2-0 lead.  Chris Raber and Justin Snyder led off the inning belting back-to-back singles to left field.  Taylor Holiday then grounded into a force attempt but an error by the second baseman allowed Raber to score and Holiday to reach safely.

                Lowell would tie the game in the top of the fourth inning, Carlos Oliva reached base on a fielding error by Justin Snyder, a single by Jorge Jimenez would move him over to scoring position and a fly out to centerfield brought him to third.  Michael Jones then doubled to plate Oliva and cut the Yankee lead to 1.  Yamaico grounded out to plate Jorge Jimenez and tie the game at 2.

                The game would not remain tied for long as in the bottom of the inning the Yankees plated two more and give them a 4-2 lead.  Ryan Wehrle led off the inning with a walk, Jose Gil then singled and Austin Krum was hit by the pitch to load the bases.  Lowell pitcher, Jordan Craft then threw a wild pitch with Chris Raber at the plate to allow Wehrle to score.  With one out in the inning, Justin Snyder belted a sacrifice fly to left, plating Gil.

                Lowell plated one run in the top of the sixth inning, off Yankee reliever Craig Heyer.  However, Staten Island would get that run right back in their half.  Chris Raber led the inning off with a walk and then scored on a double by Justin Snyder.  Staten Island added one run in the seventh with one out.  Ryan Wehrle drew a walk and was then replaced by DJ Hollingsworth.  A wild pitch brought him to second and Hollingsworth then stole third.  After Jose Gil walked, Austin Krum laid down a bunt single to the pitcher for the RBI.

                The Bombers were not done scoring as they were able to add more to their lead in the eighth.  Damon Sublett led off with a walk and a single by Braedyn Pruitt with the runner going brought Sublett to third.  David Williams grounded out into a double play to plate Sublett and give Staten Island a 7-3 lead.

                Craig Heyer came in the fourth inning and pitched 3.1 innings for his third win of the season.  However after allowing 2 walks and a single with no outs to load the bases in the ninth, the Yankees closer Jonathan Ortiz took over on the hill.  Ortiz struck out the first batter he faced and got a double play to earn his seventh save of the year.

The Staten Island Yankees will head to Hudson Valley tomorrow to start a brief two game series with the Renegades.  Chris Farely is scheduled to start the game for the bombers.