Tigers sweep the Crosscutters

Tonight's ballgame between the Oneonta Tigers and the Williamsport Crosscutters was filled with excitement. The game ended by the score of 3-2 in favor of Oneonta allowing Oneonta to complete the three game series sweep. In the bottom of the first, Jamie Johnson walked then advanced to third after Michael Rockett singled on a line drive. John Murrian came up to bat next and grounded out to first. However, Murrian's groundout was enough to score Johnson from third base to make the score 1-0. The Crosscutters fought back in the second inning when Michael Dabbs grounded out to second scoring Adam Buschini, who had started the inning with a triple (3). The Tigers would answer back in the bottom of the second when Wade Gaynor led off with a triple (1) and was driven home by Carmelo Jaime, making the score 2-1.

The Crosscutters tied the game in the top of the sixth inning. Carl Uhl got on base after an infield single and then proceeded to steal second. He eventually ended up advancing to third because of a fielding error. The first baseman Darin Ruf would double and to bring home Uhl to make the score 2-2, but that would be the end of scoring for the Crosscutters. During the bottom of the eighth, Rockett tripled (5) to right field which brought the crowd to their feet. Rawley Bishop brought him home with a single to center field. Bishop picked up his fortieth RBI of the season and gave the Tigers a lead they would not relinquish going on to win 3-2.

The game featured not just hitting but also pitching. Jose Ortega will be credited with the win for the Tigers after pitching 1.2 perfect innings and striking out one. The Crosscutter's Luke Wertz will take the loss after letting in one run on three hits during the 2 innings that he pitched. Clemente Mendoza, the Tigers' starter, pitched for 6.1 solid innings giving up two runs while recording eight strikeouts.

The Oneonta Tigers will be back home on August 27th for a three game series against the Brooklyn Cyclones. After the Cyclones series, the Hudson Valley Renegades will come down to Damaschke for a three games series, starting the 30th of August. The Tigers will close out their home stand with three games against the Lowell Spinners on September 2nd and 3rd.