Baby Bombers Breakdown: Staten Island Slide Continues

The Baby Bombers’ defensive inefficiencies caught up with them again on Sunday as three errors led them to dropping their fourth straight game, this time to the Aberdeen Ironbirds 10-4, at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in St. George. Staten Island got off to a great start, but could not hang onto the lead late in the game. This leaves manager Justin Pope struggling for answers as to how this team is going to turn it around.

“Forget about it, learn from it. Find a way to get out of the rut,” said Pope about the message he gave the team after the game.

(Photo Credit: BronxBaseballDaily.com)

It started off well for the Baby Bombers. In the bottom of the 1^st inning, designated hitter Kale Sumner got SI on the board with a two-out RBI single to give the team a 1-0 lead.

After a 2^nd inning solo home run from Aberdeen right fielder Connor Bierfeldt, Staten Island countered back with three runs in the bottom of the 3^rd inning via a two RBI double by Sumner and an RBI double by catcher Trent Garrison.

Even though the Ironbirds cut the lead to 4-3 in the next inning, the SI Yanks’ bullpen kept the team in front for the bulk of the game, including reliever Kelvin Castro loading the bases in the 5^th and then striking out the next three batters in a row.

Then, in the 8^th inning, it got ugly. After the tying run crossed the plate on a n error from first baseman Bubba Jones, the Ironbirds loaded the bases with one out. Pope then turned to reliever Andury Acevedo to replace Sam Agnew-Weiland. Acevedo proceeded to give up three runs (two earned) in two-thirds of an inning. Ultimately, the inning resulted in six runs on just two hits, which decided the game. 

For Staten Island, two pitchers who were drafted a few weeks ago made their debuts in 12^th round pick Phillip Walby and 13^th round pick Caleb Smith. Both pitchers showed quality fastballs, but secondary pitches still leave a lot to be desired.

 Yanks Go Yard will be back at the Staten Island Yankees Monday night at 7:00 p.m to watch Jairo Heredia make his 2^nd start of the season.