YGY SI Yanks Recap: Baby Bombers’ Offense Pounds Cyclones With 13 Hits In 11-5 Win

Feb 28, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; A detail of a New York Yankees logo painted on the field for a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The Staten Island Yankees’ offense has been struggling over the last two days, scoring just three runs, including being shutout by the Brooklyn Cyclones on Friday night. On Saturday, they turned the tables against Brooklyn as the team combined for 13 hits in a 11-5 victory in the second game of this three-game series. With this win, Staten Island improves to 3-3 against Brooklyn, who is 11-5 on the season.

The game did not start well for SI starter Andy Beresford as he allowed the first three runners to reach base, as he gave up just that lone unearned run on three hits and struck out three batters in 3 2/3  innings of work culminating in a RBI single by Cyclones’ third baseman Jhoan Urena to give Brooklyn a 1-0 lead. Beresford would settle down in his outing,

Staten Island would come firing back in the bottom of the first against Brookyln starter, Carlos Valdez by putting up a five run inning. After a Brady Steiger single to center field, left fielder Christopher Breen hit a two-run homer to deep left field to give the Baby Bombers a 2-1 lead. It was Breen’s first home run of the season. Four batters later, shortstop Thairo Estrada would single to center field, scoring Austin Aune, to make the score 3-1.

Two batters later, designated hitter Isaias Tejeda hit a double to the wall in left field that scored catcher Luis Torrens and Estrada to give Staten Island a 5-1 lead. Valdez would only go 2/3 of an inning and give up five runs on three hits in the loss.

Tejeda had a great game at the plate as he reached base three times and drove in four runs tonight out of the number eight spot in the order. I talked with manager Mario Garza about Tejeda’s night as well as his leadership on the team, considering this is his third season on Staten Island:

"“He’s one of our leaders,” said Garza about Tejeda. “His strike zone discipline has improved tremendously over the past couple of years.”"

Staten Island would add more runs on the board in a four-run third inning. After one of two sacrifice flies by Tejeda that ended up scoring two runs via a Cyclones’ error, first baseman Bubba Jones hit a solo homer to right field to extend the lead to 8-1. It was Jones’ second homer of the season, which equals his total from a season ago. Three batters later, second baseman Ty McFarland would give SI a 9-1 lead on a RBI single.

Brooklyn would try to rally later in the game. After cutting the deficit to 10-2, right fielder Michael Bernal hit a three run homer off of reliever Tim Giel in the top of the seventh inning that hit to the left of the scoreboard. This made the score 10-5. In the bottom of the inning, McFarland would hit a RBI double to make the score 11-5. McFarland had two RBI’s on the night and improved his batting average to .313 on the season.

As for the pitching, Rony Bautista picked up the win in relief by throwing 1 1/3 innings, giving up one run on one hit, walking two and striking out three. Despite three wild pitches, Bautista lowered his ERA to 2.08 on the season. He has been one of the more dominant relievers in the New York Penn-League, giving up just two hits and striking out 14 batters in 8.2 innings of work. Plus, opponents are only hitting .069 against him. The five Staten Island pitchers all had three strikeouts apiece in the victory.

The two teams will square off at MCU Park in Brooklyn later today at 5:00 PM ET in the rubber game of this three-game series. Staten Island’s starter will be David Palladino, who is 1-1 with a 4.73 this year. As for Brooklyn, their starter will be Mets’ pitcher Dillon Gee. who will be making his first rehab start as he attempts to come back from a lat injury. While Gee won’t throw many innings in this game, this is still an experience that these young players will have in facing a pitcher who has had some level of success in the big leagues.

"“We hope they realize to take the same approach and they can be successful if they swing at good pitches and stay aggressive,” replied Garza. “One of the toughest lessons to learn is some of those guys in the big leagues are throwing the same ball and they still have to throw it over the plate to be successful. Hopefully, we can gain some confidence through it.”"