LEXINGTON, KY—
Dilson Herrera's two-out top-of-the-ninth inning grand slam lifted Staten Island to a 7-4 series-finale victory Sunday afternoon at Lexington's Wild Health Field. Herrera's franchise-record 5 RBI day helped the FerryHawks snap a six-game losing streak and pick up the team's first road win against a South Division opponent.
Trailing 4-3 headed to the final inning, the FerryHawks utilized a one-out rally against Jose Santamaria to set the table for Herrera.
Andres Noriega catalyzed the offense with a single and was pinch-run for by the previous night's starting pitcher
Anthony Rodriguez.
Yunior Santana, pinch-hitting for
Alfredo Reyes, followed Noriega by working a walk. A fielder's choice from
Antoine Duplantis left runners on the corners for
Javier Betancourt with the FerryHawks down to their final out. Betancourt, after working the count full, was also issued a free pass by Santamaria. With the bases loaded, P.J. Phillips summoned Austin Adams to get the final out of the game. Herrera blasted Adams' 1-1 offer over the left-field fence, propelling Staten Island to a 7-4 lead. Herrera's longball was his first out-of-the-park home run of the season.
Victor Capellan, who tossed a scoreless eighth inning, worked a perfect ninth inning on his 33
rdbirthday to earn the win.
Eddy Reynoso caught Capellan's final inning, while
Eric Marinez made the final play as the FerryHawks third baseman.
Capellan (5-2) has worked 22 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run.
Santamaria (0-1) recorded two outs in his Legends debut, allowing all three runs with two walks.
Despite losing the lead after the Legends three-run seventh, the FerryHawks held an early 3-0 edge with a three-run inning of their own.
Antoine Duplantis kickstarted the scoring by belting his second solo home run of the series, a one-out third inning blast off of RHP David LeBron. His fifth homer of the year gave Staten Island a 1-0 lead.
Javier Betancourt followed with a single and was quickly plated on a Herrera double. Ahead 2-0, FerryHawks centerfielder
Ricardo Cespedes singled with two outs to score Herrera for a 3-0 lead.
Matt Solter took care of business on the other end, allowing just one run over six innings in his team-leading 16
thstart of the season. Jordany Valdespin's fourth-inning leadoff home run was the only time the Legends got to the right-hander. Solter whiffed four and walked three, lowering his ERA to 3.51.
LeBron worked seven frames, allowing no runs outside of the three-run third inning. He struckout seven and issued just one free pass.
Francisco Carillo was first out of the bullpen for Staten Island, trying to protecting a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning. After issuing three straight walks to start the inning, Edgardo Alfonso removed Carillo for right-hander
Joe Kuzia. Making his team-leading 32
ndappearance, Kuzia immediately walked Isaias Tejada, pushing home Philip Ervin to make it 3-2. Valdespin followed by hitting a ground ball to the right side, forcing Kuzia to try and catch a toss from his first baseman Osuna while locating the bag. The sequence, an E-1, forced home a run and tied the game at 3-3. After striking out Marshall, Kuzia walked Pete Yorgen to push home the go-ahead run for a 4-3 Legends lead.
Staten Island (28-55) renews the 'Battle of the Belt' with Long Island on Tuesday at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. RHP Hector Guance is slated to duel RHP Scott Harkin with first pitch at 6:35 PM.
Postgame Notes: Javier Betancourt had multiple hits in all three games of the series (6-for-14)...
Antoine Duplantis &
Javier Betancourt accounted for 12 of the FerryHawks 27 hits in the series...
Rusney Castillo recorded his third three-hit game with Staten Island (10 GP)...For the 30
thtime in 32 appearances RHP
Joe Kuzia allowed one run or fewer...
