FerryHawks Earn Series Sweep of Revolution
STATEN ISLAND, NY – Staten Island won its third straight game Thursday night at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park, picking up the franchise's first-ever sweep in a 7-2 victory over York. Despite allowing a top-of-the-first inning run for the second straight night, the FerryHawks rallied for seven runs all between the fourth and sixth innings.
Troy Stokes Jr. helped spark the Revolution's first inning run for the second straight night, earning an infield single against. LHP Anthony Rodriguez to start the game. After advancing to second base on a wild pitch, Stokes Jr. was pushed home two batters later on a Melky Mesa single. Mesa's knock extended his hitting streak to eight and gave the Revolution a 1-0 lead.
Merandy Gonzalez, making his Atlantic League debut, limited the FerryHawks to just one hit through the first three innings. The FerryHawks finally scratched the tying run across in the fourth inning courtesy of a Ricardo Cespedes sacrifice fly. After back-to-back singles by Brandon Wagner and Rymer Liriano, Norberto Susini walked to load the bases for Cespedes. Facing his former teammate in Gonzalez, Cespedes' fly out to centerfield was deep enough to push home Wagner for a 1-1 game.
Rodriguez, despite starting the fifth inning, failed to complete the frame for his fourth straight start. Yefri Perez started the inning with a single, before back-to-back walks eventually ended Gonzalez' night. Joe Kuzia was summoned out of the bullpen with the bases loaded and walked Melky Mesa, giving the lead back to the Revolution 2-1. Kuzia managed to induce a 1-2-3 double play and a fly out to limit the fifth-inning damage to one run.
Rodriguez allowed two runs on six hits across his four innings. He struck out three and walked two in his fourth-ever professional baseball start.
Gonzalez also started the fifth inning for York, but failed to complete the frame. Staten Island's game-deciding inning started in dramatic fashion with Ben Ruta launching his team-leading third home run of the season over the right-field fence. His solo blast tied the game 2-2. Angel Aguilar followed with a single, extending his hitting streak to seven games, before Wagner was hit by a pitch. With two aboard for Liriano, the FerryHawks right fielder belted a double to the left-field alley to plate a pair and give the FerryHawks a lead they'd never relinquish. After a ground rule double by Cespedes plated Liriano for a 5-2 lead, Revolution Manager Mark Mason replaced Gonzalez with Jhoendri Herrera. He was greeted by a Zach Racusin run-scoring single, making it 6-2 Staten Island.
Gonzalez (0-1) lasted 4.2 innings in his first start with York. All six runs he allowed were earned – he walked four and whiffed three.
Kuzia (1-1) tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn his first victory of the season. He allowed one hit and one walk acorss his two frames.
Kacy Clemens extended the FerryHawks lead to 7-2 in the sixth inning with a solo home run over the right-field fence. He became the second FerryHawk to homer at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park (Ben Ruta) this season.
Eddie Reynoso, Alex Katz, and Anthony Auletta combined to blank the Revolution over the final three innings. The trio combined for five strikeouts and no walks, allowing just one hit.
Staten Island (4-13) continues its first homestand by welcoming in the Gastonia Honey Hunters for the first of a four-game three-day series on Friday night. RHP Julio Teheran is slated to throw for the FerryHawks against a Honey Hunters hurler to be determined. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM with the FerryHawks Pregame Show starting at 6:45 on the SI FerryHawks Youtube Stream.
Postgame Notes: Angel Aguilar has a team-high seven-game hitting streak...FerryHawks bullpen did not allow a run in the series (10.2 IP)...Ben Ruta now leads the team with (3) home runs...Staten Island has committed one error over the last five games...LHP Anthony Auletta has struck out three of the four batters he's faced this season
