The Baby Bombers have started off this season with a 3-1 record and finally got a chance to play in front of their hometown crowd at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in Staten Island.
The 4,031 home fans in attendance were treated to an extra inning thriller. With one out and the bases loaded Center fielder Dom Thompson-Williams would line a double directly on right field line, to send the fans home happy and give the Baby Bombers a 4-3 win over the IronBirds.
“We didn’t know it was fair at first, you know he put a swing on it and we didn’t know if it was going to stay fair or foul,” said teammate Dalton Blaser. “It was just good at bat after good at bat, got us in a situation to win and Dom put a good swing on it.”
Coming off their 8-6 win over the Renegades, the S.I Yankees faced off against the Aberdeen IronBirds (Baltimore Orioles affiliate) on FDNY appreciation night. On the mound for the Yankees was Daniel Alvarez making his first start of the season, while Hector Guance took the ball for the IronBirds.
The game started off with a pitcher’s duel, as both starters were able to go 5.0 innings both only allowing one hit. The S.I Yankees got things started in the 1st inning when two early errors and a double by Leonardo Molina gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead.
Alvarez would hold that lead into the third inning when he started struggling with control of his pitches. A walk and an error allowed two runners to get on base for Branden Becker, who would launch a three run homerun into the trees in right field.
Both bullpens were able to take control only allowing 2 hits a piece after the third inning. It looked like the IronBirds would ruin the home opener for the Baby Bombers, until Dalton Blaser blasted a solo homerun with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into extra innings.
“I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit, I didn’t think he was going to double up on a fastball, but fortunately I got a pitch to hit and put a swing on it,” said Blaser. “I was just as fired up as all the guys, it’s actually weird I speak a little Spanish and I couldn’t say anything in English I was so fired up I was speaking Spanish.”
The Baby Bombers have been middle of the pack to start the season when it comes to hits (32) and scoring runs (23) a trend that would continue tonight (4hits and 4 runs). Although their moniker (Baby Bombers) suggests they are power hitters, Blaser’s homerun was the first by any player this season. But they have not allowed these early issues stop them from winning ball games and staying atop the division.
“Those guys never give-up, they don’t panic, they play until the last out so it was cool to see Dalton hit that ball,” said manager Julio Mosquera. “To be honest I didn’t think it would go out of the ballpark cause it was a low line drive but I was excited at the end result.”
It was not all-good news for the SI Yankees as right fielder Timmy Robinson would get hurt trying to make a diving catch. He would stay in for one more pitch before being taken out of the game by the trainer.
Robinson who came on strong towards the end of last season has struggled so far this season with no hits in 14 at bats. Mosquera has not spoken with the trainers or Timmy so his injury has not been disclosed with the public so there is no timetable for his return.
The Baby Bombers will have Jhony Brito take the mound tomorrow for his first career start, as they look for their 5th win of the early season.
“He’s a young guy from the Dominican Republic, he’s got good poise on the mound got some good pitches, hopefully he can give us as many innings as he can” said Mosquera.
First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.
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