Staten Island Yankees Recap: Baby Bombers Lose 4-3 In 12 Innings To Aberdeen
By Ricky Keeler
Last night, the Staten Island Yankees (31-28) began a critical series in their New York-Penn League season when they took on the Aberdeen Ironbirds (30-30) at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark In St. George. It was the first game of what will end up being five games in three days. Staten Island had a 3-0 lead, but the Ironbirds would rally to tie it in the seventh.
Then, Jake Hernandez, who normally is a catcher, came into the game because the Yankees had no arms left in the bullpen. He gave up the game winning sacrifice fly in the top of the 12th as Aberdeen got the win, 4-3. It will end up being a long few days for manager Pat Osborn and his team as they will be playing at least 54 innings (three doubleheaders) in a five day period (dating back to Saturday) by the time Wednesday night’s doubleheader is over. I asked Osborn after the game about this grueling stretch for his players:
"“This is tough. We just want to get through this with our heads above water,” replied Osborn. “It takes a toll on you and these are big games. It’s going to be a grind.”"
The Baby Bombers would get on the board first in the bottom of the second against Travis Seabrooke. Ryan Krill led off the inning with a double off the wall in left and he would come around to score on a double down the left field line by Trey Amburgey to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. After a single by Eduardo de Oleo, Drew Bridges drove in Amburgey with a base hit to left for the game’s second run. Staten Island would have bases loaded, no out at one point later in the inning, but they could not drive in another run.
The lead would increase to 3-0 in the following inning. With Kevin Cornelius on third (who led off the inning with a double) and no out, Krill drove him in on a groundout to first base.
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With that 3-0 lead, Luis Cedeno was able to keep the Ironbirds bats quiet all night. The 21-year-old right-hander went six innings, gave up no runs on six hits, struck out seven, and did not walk a batter on 82 pitches (57 strikes). The seven strikeouts would tie a season high for the New York Penn-League All-Star.
Mark Seyler would pitch in relief of Cedeno in the seventh inning. He got the first two outs easily, but Austin Pfeiffer got the Ironbirds on the board with a solo shot to left field, his third of the season. After a triple by Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins doubled to right to cut the lead to 3-2. Seyler would end up allowing the tying run to score on a base hit to center by Ricardo Andujar.
With DJ Stewart at the plate, Seyler would end up leaving the game during the at-bat due to injury. Travis Hissong would come into the game and keep the game tied. Hissong went 3.1 innings, gave up one hit, struck out five, and walked one.
The game would stay tied until the top of the 12th when Staten Island had to go to Jake Hernandez to pitch because they were out of arms. Hernandez had just arrived to Staten Island earlier in the game after spending the weekend playing in Charleston with the Riverdogs. Hernandez threw the ball well, but with runners on the corners and one out, Stewart drove in the game winning run on a sacrifice fly to right.
"“Jake did a good job. He threw strikes and almost got out of it, but it is what it is,” replied Osborn."
Yi-Hsiang Lin (2-0, 3.44) would get the win for Aberdeen while Andrew Elliott came in during the bottom of the 12th to pick up the final out and earn his second save of the season.
Despite the loss, the star of the night on offense was Trey Amburgey. The Staten Island right fielder went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored, and a RBI. In his first six games with the Staten Island Yankees, he is 13-for-23 (.565) at the plate with one home run and seven RBI’s. With some of the injuries Staten Island has had to players such as right fielder Jhalan Jackson (who will be back in the lineup tonight), Amburgey has stepped up and helped out the offense.
"“He’s carrying us. He looks like a world beater, this guy can play,” said Osborn. “This kid can hit, has some power, can run, and plays a good outfield. I’m glad he’s here and he’s going to play a big impact on this team.”"
Next Game: The Staten Island Yankees will play the first of two doubleheaders this afternoon against Aberdeen. The first game, which is the continuation of a suspended game, will begin at 5:05 PM ET with Staten Island up 1-0 in the bottom of the first (Aberdeen will be the home team) in that game. Staten Island will send Kolton Mahoney (1-2, 3.09) to the mound to continue Game 1 and Ethan Carnes (1-0, 1.74) will start Game 2 for the Baby Bombers. Staten Island leads Aberdeen by 1.5 games in the McNamara division.
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