Bombers Take Wild Card as Bats Explode

Yankees score 13 runs against the Hudson Valley Renegades

By: Robert Pimpsner

August 5, 2007 – The Staten Island Yankees exploded to score 13 runs against the Hudson Valley Renegades to take the first game of a two game set in 10 innings.  The Yankee offense was led by Chris Raber, who had a career night going 3 for 6 with his first professional homerun and 6 RBIs.

                The Bombers started their scoring early in the game, plating a run in the second on a Jose Gil home run (5) before a monstrous 6-run fifth.  Justin Snyder and Taylor Holiday led the inning off with back-to-back singles; Damon Sublett laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached base on an error by the pitcher.  Braedyn Pruitt was then hit by the pitch, forcing in Snyder.  David Williams and Joes Gil belted singles plating Holiday and Sublett before Chris Raber smacked a 2-RBI double single to left for a 7-0 lead.

                Staten Island would make it 8-0 in the top of the seventh when with 2 outs Matt Morris drew a walk and scored on a Justin Snyder double (12).  Hudson Valley was not going down easy as they began to chip away at the Yankee lead.  The Renegades plated 2 runs in both the seventh and eighth innings before scoring four more in the ninth and forcing the game into extra innings.

                The Yankees did not let Hudson Valley’s comeback bother them as they exploded for another 5 runs in the top of the tenth.  Taylor Holiday led the inning off with a single and with 1 out Ryan Wehrle drew a pinch hit walk.  Then Frank LoNigro singled to load the bases and with two outs in the inning, DJ Hollingsworth was hit by the pitch to give the Bombers a 9-8 lead.  With the bases will loaded and 2 outs Chris Raber stepped up to the plate.  Raber then slammed a homerun (1) to right field, clearing he bases for the second Yankee Grand Slam in 2007.

                Staten Island used 4 pitchers in the contest.  Jason Stephens made his first SI Yankee start since 2005 and went 6 innings before giving the ball up to Kyle Hollander.  Jonathan Ortiz came in the ninth but was unable to hold the lead for the save; he did however get the win.  Newcomer, Dan Kapala finished the game for the bombers with a 1-2-3 inning in the tenth.

                The Renegades and Yankees will finish this brief 2 game series tonight at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark.  Chris Farley is scheduled to pitch for Staten Island.  The Yankee win combined with a Lowell loss last night gave the bombers a 1 game lead in the wild card race.