Crosscutters Shutout at Batavia as Muckdogs Even Series

Batavia, N.Y. - The Crosscutters had their two-game win streak snapped and suffered their worst loss of the season in a 10-0 decision at the Batavia Muckdogs on Monday night. The two teams have traded blowout wins with double-digit offensive outputs with the Crosscutters having won the series opener 10-3 on Sunday.

Second baseman Jack Strunc led the way for Batavia going 3-for-3 with a double and five RBI while also makin a couple sparkling plays at second base.

Batavia (38-31) scored five runs in the first inning against Chris Micheles (L, 0-3) to set the tone early.

Russian left-hander Anton Kuznetsov entered in relief and retired all eight batters he faced. He has now recorded 20 consecutive outs over his last three outings. Jake Kinney also offered effective relief in 3.1 innings to finish the game allowing one run on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

Rudy Rott led the Cutters offense with two hard-hit singles to center.

Williamsport (28-40) threatened to break through with two runners in scoring position in the third and the bases loaded in the sixth but Batavia worked out of it with inning-ending strikeouts both times.

Hard-throwing left-hander Julio Frias (W, 5-3) avenged an August 5 loss against the Cutters by throwing five strong innings of three-hit shutout ball with four strikeouts. 
Batavia jumped out to the early lead with a big opening inning. Dalvy Rosario and Milton Smith II both had singles although the Crosscutters disputed the safe call on Smith's bunt single after a strong play by Micheles at the first-base line fell just short of getting the speedy hitter.
After a hit batter and fielder's choice force-out at home came a bases-loaded walk of Sean Reynolds on a pitch the Cutters thought was a strike. Batavia led 1-0 and then kept it rolling rom there on a single to center by Julian Infante to bring in two and then a single to left by Andrew Sthormes and another bases-loaded walk for Jack Strunc spelling the end of Micheles' evening in a 5-0 deficit. 
Kuznetsov picked up where he left off in his last outing when he recorded 11 straight outs against Mahoning Valley. Here it was eight straight against the Muckdogs extending his total streak of batters retired to 20. 
Batavia boosted its lead with four runs in the fifth against Adam Leverett beginning with an error and a couple walks loading the bases and setting the table for Strunc who rought home the whole contingent with his double to left-center over the head of Jake Holmes for an 8-0 lead. Smith II then brought in Strunc with a single to right-center for a 9-0 cushion.
A lead-off walk by Kinney would result in the tenth run of the game in the sixth inning with Strunc capping his five-RBI night on a single to plate Reynolds to complete the scoring.

The Crosscutters conclude the road-series at Batavia with a Tuesday morning game at 11:05 a.m. with RHP Jose Conopoima the scheduled starter for Williamsport.

Cutters Carvings:
- Williamsport suffered its worst loss of the season. Previously the largest margin of defeat was a nine-run loss on July 10 against Vermont in an 11-2 game. 
- The Cutters are 18-13 in the second half of the season after going 10-27 in the first half.
- Williamsport has seven games left in the season including five at home.
- First-rounder Bryson Stott had a day off against the Muckdos left-handed pitching. 
- The Crosscutters were shutout in a nine-inning game for the sixth time this year including the second time in the last five games including the no-hitter they sustained last Thursday against Mahoning Valley.
- Batavia leads the season series 7-4 but the Crosscutters are 3-2 at Dwyer Stadium.
- Tuesday's 11:05 a.m. game is the only morning start of the season for the Crosscutters however there is rain in the forecast.