Pulaski Blanks Bristol in Game Two of Series

PULASKI, Virginia - In what seemed like a complete turnaround from the previous night, the Pulaski Yankees (6-5) hammered the Bristol Pirates (6-5) at Calfee Park on Sunday evening 12-0. In stark contrast to Saturday's game, neither team had much of an offensive showing until the Yankees unleashed their offense on Bristol in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring six runs on five hits.

     The first run of the game came from Pulaski in the third inning, a solo home run by Dermis Garcia. In the fifth inning, the Yankees tacked on three more runs to their lead. The inning started with Josh Gardiner taking a base after being hit by a pitch. The very next batter, Estevan Florial, drove him in with a home run to right field. After Isiah Gilliam reached first base on a walk, he was driven home by Kevin Cornelius on a two out RBI double.

     In the sixth inning, however, the Yankees offense showed what it was capable of. Manny Argomaniz started the inning off with a four-pitch walk before advancing to second on a past ball. Catcher Victor Rey singled to left field to get on base. When Gardiner came up to bat again, he drove in Argomaniz on a fielder's choice. Bristol's pitcher, David Whitehead, threw the ball to home plate but Argomaniz avoided the tag to score the fourth run of the game for Pulaski. Florial and Welfrin Mateo both managed to reach base safely, each with an RBI single. With Florial and Mateo on base, Kevin Cornelius stepped up to the plate. In typical Cornelius fashion, he drove in both runners with a three-run home run to put Pulaski up 10-0. The home run by Cornelius was his fifth of the season and fourth in the past five games.

     In the seventh inning, Garcia homered again for his second run of the night and increased Pulaski's lead to 11. Florial and Mateo continued their nights in the eight inning with Mateo driving in the centerfielder on an RBI triple.

     Bristol never got their offense going thanks to the work of Pulaski's pitching staff. Starter Zak Wasserman picked up the win while pitching five innings and giving up five hits and no runs. For the Pirates, starting pitcher Nestor Oronel tossed 4.1 innings while giving up four hits and three runs to get the loss.

     The Yankees will play the third game of the series against Bristol on Monday at 4 p.m. General admission to Monday's game will be free as part of an Independence Day celebration by the Yankees.