Ford goes yard in 6-5 Yankees win

Staten Island, NY - August 8th - The Staten Island Yankees edged the State College Spikes on Thursday afternoon by a score of 6-5.

Staten Island took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Eric Jagielo hit a sacrifice fly to left. Jose Rosario, who led off the inning with a walk and stole second, scored on the play.

That lead did not last long however, as the Spikes put a run on the board in the second. David Palladino gave up back-to-back walks to David Washington and Carson Kelly. Mason Katz then doubled on a line drive to left to plate Washington.

In the third, Steven Ramos singled and stole second before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Luis Perez, to give State College a 2-1 advantage. The Spikes then extended that lead in the following frame. Michael Schulze hit a sacrifice fly to score Mason Katz, and Ramos singled on a ground ball to left to plate Katz.

Mike Ford homered on a fly ball to centerfield in the fourth, but David Washington also hit a solo shot in the next inning to make it 5-2.

The Yankees scored two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to put themselves back on top. Jagielo hit a two-run double to right in the fifth before Trent Garrison drove a pair home in the sixth with a single.

Kelvin Castro earned the win after tossing 2.2 innings of relief, allowing one earned run off two hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Nick Rumbelow earned his fourth save after pitching a perfect ninth with two strikeouts.

Arturo Reyes suffered the loss for the Spikes. He threw 3.0 innings and allowed two runs - one earned - on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

The Yankees will begin a three-game series against the Lowell Spinners at home tomorrow at 7:00PM. LHP Caleb Smith (1-2, 2.67 ERA) will toe the mound for the Yankees, while LHP Corey Littrell (0-0, 0.68 ERA) is expected to get the ball for the Spinners. Tomorrow is Throwback Night. The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a free throwback jersey. Tickets are on sale now by calling 718-720-9265, visiting the box office at Richmond County Bank Ballpark, or CLICKING HERE.