Bombers Tame 'Cats in Game One Win

Yanks beat Tri-City in opening game of the final regular season series

By: Robert Pimpsner

September 5, 2007 – It could not have been a better night for baseball at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark as the Staten Island Yankees defeated the Tri-City Valley Cats in the opening game of the final regular season series.

                Adam Olbrychowski got the start for the Baby Bombers, his final start of the regular season.  The young right-hander got his third win for Staten Island, going 5 innings allowing just 2 runs on 4 hits.  The fifth round pick struggled with his control a bit, walking 3 but also struck out 5.

                The Yankees fell behind in the first 1-0 but tied the game in the bottom of the second.  Austin Krum led off the inning getting hit by the pitch, moved to second on a balk and then stole third.  DJ Hollingsworth then grounded a ball to centerfield plating Krum for his 15^th RBI of the season.

                The Baby Bombers would go ahead in the fourth and never look back.  Braedyn Pruitt led off being hit by the pitch and then moved to second on a wild pitch.  He then moved 90 feet away on a single by Austin Krum.  Krum advanced to second on the throw and with 2-outs Chris Raber had a 2-RBI single on a fly ball to center to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead.

                After giving up a run in the top of the fifth the Yankees came right back to bring the lead back up to 2.  DJ Hollingsworth tripled to lead off the inning and then scored on a 1-out line drive single to left. 

The Baby Bombers were not done yet as they added more in the seventh to put it away.  Isaiah Howes started it off with a 1-out single, Justin Snyder then walked and Taylor Holiday was hit by the pitch to load the bases for Braedyn Pruitt.  Pruitt then singled to make it 5-2 with the bases still loaded and only 1-out.  Jose Gil was next at the plate; the Yankee backstop slammed a ball over the left field fence for the first Grand Slam at home this season.

Staten Island scored 4 more in the eighth to cushion their lead even more.  With 1-out James LaSala came up to pinch hit for Isaiah Howes.  LaSala struck out but a wild pitch allowed him to reach first.  Justin Snyder then reached on an error by the left fielder and Braedyn Pruitt walked to load the bases with 2 outs.  Jose Gil then singled to plate LaSala and Austin Krum had a bases clearing double to give the Yankees a 13-2 lead.

These two teams will meet again tomorrow night with Ryan Pope taking the mound for the Bombers.   Also prior to the games the Staten Island Yankees Booster Club will be handing out their annual player awards.