Roller’s Big Night Lift Yankees Past Doubledays

Staten Island Yankees first baseman Kyle Roller had a big night at the plate, going 3 for 5 with a double, triple and a homerun while working a walk and driving in three runs raising his batting average to .315.  He was one of six Staten Island Yankee batters to have multiple hits in the game as Francisco Arcia, Kelvin De Leon and Mike Ferraro had two hits a piece while Eduardo Sosa and Luis Parache had three hits.  Jose Mojica and Francisco Arcia each had two RBIs in the game while Jeff Farnham worked two walks.

The Baby Bombers were the first to get on the board, plating a single run in the top half of the first.  With two-outs Francisco Arcia grounded the ball into center field for a single and then went to third when Kyle Roller lined the ball to left for a double.  Arcia scored on a line drive since by Kelvin De Leon, giving the Yankees 1-0 lead.

Mike O'Brien File Photo - Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

Auburn responded by plating two runs off of State Island Yankees starter Mikey O’Brien in their half of the first.  However that would be only two runs they could muster off of the right-hander as he went six inning allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out one to earn the win.  With that victory O’Brien took over sole position with the most wins in the New York-Penn League.

Staten Island tied it up in the top of the second inning when Jeff Farnham walked, went to second on a single by Luis Parache, to third when Jose Mojica walked and then scored when Francisco Arcia was hit by the pitch.

The Baby Bombers took the lead in the top of the fourth inning when Jeff Farnham singled to left, then went to second on a fielding error by the left fielder and to third on a sacrifice bunt by Luis Parache.  Eduardo Sosa hit an infield single to second to score Farnham before going to second when Jose Mojica was hit by the pitch.  After both runners advanced on a ground out to second by Francisco Arcia Kyle Roller hit a fly ball to right field for a two-RBI triple.

With two-outs in the top of the seven the Yankees plated another run as Mike Ferraro doubled to center, went to third on a wild pitch before Jeff Farnham walked and then came home on a Luis Parache single to right.

That run worked in the advantage of the Staten Island Yankees as pitcher Nathan Forer came in to the game in the bottom of the inning and allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one.  Preston Claiborne got out of the seventh with a strike out to stop the damage there.

Staten Island added another insurance run in the top of the eighth on Kyle Roller’s first professional homerun that went over the right field fence.

In the bottom of the eighth inning the Doubledays plated their final run of the game.  Preston Claiborne pitched an inning and a third of one-run ball, allowing three hits and striking out two.

Mike Ferraro File Photo - Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

The top of the ninth saw another offensive explosion as the Yankees plated four runs in that half of the inning.  Mike Ferraro started it off with an infield single to second, then went to second on a ground out by Jeff Farnham and then to third when Luis Parache reached on a fielding error by the second baseman.  Ferraro then scored and Parache went to second when the Auburn pitcher threw a wild pitch with Eduardo Sosa at the plate.  Sosa then had an infield single to short that brought Parache to third.  Both of the runners would then score on a fly ball double to left field by Jose Mojica.  Mojica would then score as Francisco Arcia singled on a fly ball to center.

With the win the Staten Island Yankees remain a game and a half on top of the McNamara Division and took the series from the Doubledays.  Wilton Rodriguez is scheduled to pitch the third and final game of the series before the team enjoys one of only two off days.

Robert M Pimpsner is the New York Yankees minor league beat writer for Gotham Baseball Magazine.  He joined Gotham Baseball in July 2009 after spending over six years as the owner and senior writer of Baby-Bombers.com, bringing over his in depth coverage of the Staten Island Yankees.  He also contributes to GothamBaseball.com and BaseballDigest.com as a Graphic Designer.

Robert M. Pimpsner

Robert joins Gotham Baseball after spending 7 1/2 years as the owner and senior writer for Baby-Bombers.com providing independent coverage of the Staten Island Yankees and their alumni for thousands of visitors. In July of 2009 he joined Gotham Baseball, bringing his coverage of the Baby Bombers.

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