Staten Island Yankees Game Recap 7/8

JONES DELIVERS WALK-OFF SINGLE AS YANKEES DOWN TIGERS 7-6

By COURTNEY NUNES

Staten Island, NY – July 8th – First baseman Bubba Jones knocked in the winning run with a single in the ninth on Monday night as the Staten Island Yankees walked off with a 7-6 victory over the Connecticut Tigers.

The Tigers were first on the board, picking up a run in the top of the first inning. Steven Negron led off the frame with a walk before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Raphael Rhymes.

That lead did not last long, however, as Staten Island tied the game in the bottom half of the frame. Mike O’Neill hit a one-out triple to right and later crossed the plate when Kale Sumner hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

In the third, Connecticut took a two-run lead. Dominic Ficociello singled on a fly ball to right before Rhymes walked. Back-to-back singles by Ben Verlander and Duncan McAlpine allowed Ficociello to come home. Rhymes then scored on a fielding error by right fielder Mikeson Oliberto.

Two innings later, the Yankees pick up a run on another sacrifice fly hit off the bat of Jose Rosario. Derek Toadvine, who singled on a bunt ground ball to third, scored on the play.

Both teams tacked on one run in the sixth. McAlpine started the top half of the frame with a line drive double to right and scored on a ground ball single by Austin Schotts. For the Yankees, Bubba Jones led off with a single and was plated by Derek Toadvine when he grounded into a force out.

Connecticut took a 5-3 lead in the eighth when Tyler Gibson scored as Ficociello reached on a fielding error by shortstop Jose Rosario. But in the bottom half of the inning, four errors cost the Tigers the lead as the Yankees pulled ahead, 6-5.

Daniel Lopez began things for Staten Island, reaching on a fielding error by shortstop Steven Negron. Jones then walked. With Mikeson Oliberto batting, a throwing error by Austin Green on the pickoff attempt, allowed Lopez to score and Jones to move to third. Then, Jones also came home on a throwing error by centerfielder Austin Schotts. Up next, Oliberto struck out swinging for the first out of the innings before Radley Haddad singled to plate Jones. Haddad advanced to third on another Connecticut throwing error – this time by third baseman Duncan McAlpine. And finally, Haddad scored when Toadvine hit a sacrifice fly to center.

In the ninth, Ben Verlander scored the last run for the Tigers on a wild pitch by Yankees’ reliever Nick Rumbelow. Staten Island then pulled ahead for good in the bottom of the ninth when Bubba Jones singled on a ground ball to plate Eric Jagielo, who had also singled earlier in the inning.

Yankees’ starter Caleb Smith went 4.0 innings and allowed three runs – two earned – off four hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Reliever Nick Rumbelow blew the save in the ninth, but also earned the win. Rumbelow threw just the one inning and gave up one unearned run. He allowed no hits and no walks, and fanned two batters.

Andrew Harrison suffered the loss for Connecticut after going just 0.1 innings. He surrendered one earned run off one hit with two walks.

The Yankees will take on the Connecticut Tigers again tomorrow at home. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00PM. RHP Jairo Heredia (1-1, 2.33 ERA) will toe the mound for the Yankees, while RHP Jonathon Crawford (0-1, 2.45 ERA) is expected to get the ball for the Tigers. Tickets are on sale now by calling 718-7-9265, or by visiting www.siyanks.com or the box office at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.