FerryHawks 'Freese' Revolution in Dakota's Debut
STATEN ISLAND, NY – The Staten Island FerryHawks earned the franchise's second-ever victory on Tuesday night at Staten Island Univeristy Hospital's Community Park, defeating the York Revolution 8-2 in the series opener. In his first FerryHawks start, right-hander
Dakota Freese tossed 5.1 innings of two-run baseball to earn the win.
Opposing former Major Leaguer and Revolution right-hander Alex Sanabia, Freese was immediately up to the task in his first outing of the year. The 30-year-old began his FerryHawks tenure by retiring the first 10 batters he faced. After allowing his first hit with one out in the fourth, Freese plunked Melky Mesa. But with two on and one gone, Freese retired Nellie Rodriguez and Jack Kenley to keep the shutout in tact.
While the FerryHawks did load the bases in the first inning, they failed to generate any runs against Sanabia until the fourth inning. After a leadoff walk to
Rymer Liriano and a single by
Ricardo Cespedes, Staten Island Catcher
John Nester strolled to the plate just 1-for-21 on the season. Nester proceeded to belt one deep into the right-field gap, scoring both Liriano and Cespedes to make it 2-0. The rally continued following a one-out walk by
Joseph Monge, putting two aboard for the top of the FerryHawks lineup in
Ben Ruta. The lefty bashed his second home run of the season, a three run shot, deep over the wall in right field. The FerryHawks would send 10 batters to the plate and score five runs on four hits and two walks.
Sanabia (1-1) lasted five innings, allowing five earned runs (all in the fourth), with six strikeouts and four walks.
York tried to nibble away at the FerryHawks lead in the fifth inning, scoring the only two runs of their night. Elmer Reyes got to Freese for a leadoff double, before Josue Herrera earned a free pass. Kenley was able to push both runners into scoring position with a productive groundout to Clemens at first. With two on and one out, Paul Mondesi singled home a pair to cut the deficit to 5-2.
Freese (1-0) threw 100 pitches in his Staten Island debut, coughing up just the two fifth-inning runs. He struck out four and walked two in the victory.
The FerryHawks tacked on a little insurance in the later innings, scoring twice in the sixth and once more in the seventh. Staten Island greeted York's first reliever, Robinson Parra, with a
Ben Ruta walk and an
Angel Aguilar single. Following a Clemens fly out to centerfield,
Brandon Wagner strolled in already 1-for-1 with a single and walk. Wagner proceeded to roll a dribbler back to the mound, which Parra fielded cleanly and then threw wide of the second base bag. The error allowed Ruta to score to make it a 6-2 game. Minutes later, Parra launched a wild pitch to the backstop, pushing Aguilar home from third.
Staten Island managed the one seventh inning tally without recording a hit.
John Nester started the frame by being plunked on the left shoulder by Yasin Arias. After being pushed to second on a Betancourt groundout, the FerryHawks catcher to third and then home on a pair of wild pitches, stretching the lead to 8-2.
A trio of FerryHawks relievers managed to keep the Revolution off the scoreboard over the final 3.2 IP. Eddie Reynoso,
Chris Nunn, and
Alex Katz combined to allow just two hits, with seven strikeouts and zero walks. They faced two over the minimum during the 3.2 inning span.
Staten Island (2-13) plays the middle game of the three-game set with York on Wednesday evening at Staten Island University Hospital's Community Park. RHP
Matt Solter gets the ball for the FerryHawks against Revolution LHP Austin Nicely with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 PM. The FerryHawks Pregame show gets started at 6:15 PM on the SI FerryHawks Youtube Stream.
Postgame Notes: Eight runs is the most Staten Island has scored this season...the five-run fourth inning is the most Staten Island has scored in one inning...LHP
Chris Nunn has not allowed a run in five appearances this season (6.1 IP)...
Ben Ruta has the FerryHawks only two Home Runs at home...
Angel Aguilar (3-for-5) recorded his team-best seventh multi-hit game of the year...
Kacy Clemens (2-for-4) earned his second multi-hit game of the year
