HOLY SHNIKES! Farley Takes Game One

Chris Farley made his Yankees debut at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark

By: Robert Pimpsner

July 20, 2007 -  It was a beautiful night at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark as the Staten Island Yankees hosted the State College Spikes for the first time in team history.  Fans came out to celebrate FDNY night at the ballpark and were treated to a cool breeze off the water.

            The original scheduled starter was Dellin Betances, but due to an injury he could not pitch.  Taking his place was newly acquired pitcher Chris Farley, no not the late comedian.  Farley was reunited with his former pitching coach, Jeff Ware.  Farley is not a stranger to the NY-Penn League; he has had two tours in the league, one with Lowell and the other with the New Jersey Cardinals.  Farley did well in his return to affiliated ball as he went five innings and allowed just two runs on five hits.

            State College was the first to get on the board when they plated one run in the first inning.  After two consecutive singles and a passed ball; a sacrifice fly to left would bring in the run.   The bombers would get out of the inning after a pop out and strike out.  The Spikes would plate another run in the second.

            The bombers came alive in the bottom of the fifth inning and took the lead.  After Chris Raber flew out to start the inning, Isaiah Howes doubled and David Williams singled on a bunt to third.  Justin Snyder singled to center to score Howes and Taylor Holiday singled to load the bases, but a throwing error by the left fielder allowed the runners to advance.  With the game tied and two runners in scoring position, Damon Sublett gave the Yankees the lead with a sacrifice fly.

            Nick Chigges came in to relieve Farley and after giving up a lead off double he got out of the inning unscarred.

The bombers came alive once more in the sixth inning as they plated another three runs to give them a 6-2 lead.  Jose Gil led off the inning with his fifth double of the season and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Luis Nunez but due to an error by the third baseman no out was made.  Chris Raber then singled to bring home Gil and another single by Isaiah Howes loaded the bases.  With the bases loaded David Williams then grounded into a force out, scoring Luis Nunez while advancing Raber and Williams.  Williams and Raber then pulled off a doubled steal giving the Yankees their sixth run of the game.

The Spikes would get a run back in the eighth inning when Justin Byler belted a long home run over the right field fence.  The bombers would get into some trouble in the eighth with two men on and two outs.  Staten Island would then go to the bullpen and Jonathan Ortiz induced a fly out to right to end the inning.  Ortiz finished the game and earned the save.

Yankees and Spikes will meet again tomorrow night as Zach McAllister will take the hill.