In the tenth inning and in front of a sold out crowd Staten Island Yankees outfielder Kelvin De Leon sent a fly ball up into the air and over the left-field fence with two runners on base and a 3-2 count for a walk-off three-run homerun making him the hero of the day.

That homerun broke a game that was deadlocked at one run a piece since the top of the sixth inning.

The Staten Island Yankees were the first to get on the board in the game, plating a single run in the first inning without recording a base hit.  Eduardo Sosa walked then stole second and third base.  On an errant throw to third by the catcher Sosa came home giving the Yankees a one-run lead.

In the top of the sixth inning the Mahoning Valley Scrappers plated their only run of the game off of the Staten Island starter Mikey O’Brien.  O’Brien threw six innings allowing just three hits and struck out two out of the twenty batters he faced.

Eduardo Sosa was taken out of the game in the top of the fifth.  He appeared to injury himself sliding into third base with what should have been his third steal of the game.  The umpire called him safe at third but he stood up in foul territory after the play was ended and was tagged out.

Bryant Cotton pitched a scoreless inning out of the bullpen allowing a hit and a walk before Preston Claiborne went two shutout innings allowing a couple hits and striking out five.  Chase Whitley earned the win throwing a shutout tenth inning.

In the bottom of the tenth Garrison Lassiter worked a leadoff walk before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jeff Farnham.  The Scrappers then intentionally walked Luis Parache to pitch to right-fielder Kelvin De Leon who came in as a defensive replacement in the fifth inning.  After working the count full De Leon sent the ball into the wind, which was blowing to left-field, for his fifth homerun of the season giving the Yankees a 4-1 win and avoiding the sweep.

Notes: Friday the Staten Island Yankees will be heading to Troy, NY to take on the Tri-City Valley Cats for a three-game set before the All-Star Break.  Nik Turley, Kramer Sneed and Zachary Varce are scheduled to pitch for the Baby Bombers.  Eduardo Sosa is not expected to be available for the game.  Yankees 12th round pick Dan Burawa joined the team today, wearing number 38.  The St. John’s University product will pitch out of the bullpen this season.

After three hours and thirty-two minutes to play nine innings the Staten Island Yankees walked off with the series win against the visiting Williamsport Crosscutters thanks to the patient plate approach by Yankees first baseman Kyle Roller.

With the bases loaded, two out on the board and a 7-7 tie Roller worked a 3-1 count before taking ball four high to bring home Nick McCoy and win the game.

Rewind to the first inning when Staten Island Yankees starter Kramer Sneed struggled allowing five runs, two earned on 45 pitches.  He was not helped by the Staten Island defense who committed two errors in the inning.  Sneed rebounded in the second inning throwing a scoreless 14-pitch inning.

In the bottom of the first inning the Baby Bombers plated three-runs with two-outs.  Kyle Roller, Kelvin De Leon, Mike Ferraro and Garrison Lassiter had back-to-back-to-back-to-back singles.  Ferraro had one RBI and Lassiter had two in the inning.

The score remained 5-3 until the bottom of the fourth inning when Staten Island plated another single.  Eduardo Sosa walked with one-out and then went to third after two consecutive wild pitches before scoring on a ground out by Shane Brown.

Williamsport plated single runs in the top of the fifth and sixth inning respectively to expand their lead to 7-4.  However Staten Island began their come back in the bottom of the eighth inning when they plated two runs.  Three back-to-back singles by Jose Mojica, Luis Parache, and Nick McCoy loaded the bases for center fielder Eduardo Sosa who launched the ball to first baseman who knocked it down in foul territory for a infield single.  Jose Mojica scored and Parache came around from second base for the second run.

The comeback was completed in the bottom of the ninth inning.  Luis Parache started it off a two-out homerun to right field.  Nick McCoy then doubled to left before Eduardo Sosa and Shane Brown walked to load the bases for Kyle Roller.  Roller took a big swing at the first pitch but then took the next four pitches to work a walk-off walk and give the Yankees the victory.

Earning the win for Staten Island was Richard Martinez who threw two shutout innings allowing just a hit and striking out two.  He followed Mike Gipson and Andy Shive who threw three and two innings respectively.  The Yankee pitching staff combined for fifteen strikeouts in the game.

Four Yankees had a multi-hit game being lead by catcher Nick McCoy who had three hits, including a double.  Shane Brown, Kyle Roller and Luis Parache had two hits.  Eduardo Sosa, Kelvin De Leon, Mike Ferraro, Garrison Lassiter, and Jose Mojica had singles in the game.  As a team the Baby Bombers left a total of 14 runners on base and was 5-for15 with runners in scoring position.

Tuesday night the Staten Island Yankees will open up a three-game series with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers with Zachary Varce, Shane Greene and Mikey O’Brien scheduled to pitch the series.

Notes: Right-handed reliever Manny Barreda was promoted to Single-A Charleston.  Yankees outfielder Isaiah Brown was suspended for unknown reasons, but it was not for drugs or performance enhancers.

In front of over 5,000 people at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George the Staten Island Yankees go back to winning when they defeated the visiting Williamsport Crosscutters, 6-5.

The Yankees fell behind early when the Crosscutters plated a single run in the top of the first inning.  However Staten Island took their first lead of the night when they plated two runs of their own in their half of the first.  Shane Brown started it off with a line drive single to right before moving to second on another single by Kyle Roller.  Brown scored and Roller would move over to third when Staten Island right-fielder Kelvin De Leon doubled on a fly ball to right field.  Mike Ferraro then grounded out to the shortstop to bring home Roller and give the Yankees the 2-1 lead.

Williamsport tied the game up in the top of the third, but the tie would not last long as the Baby Bombers came back again in their half of the inning.  Eduardo Sosa reached first on a fielding error then stole second but was caught stealing at third base when he collided with the Crosscutter third baseman.  Shane Brown then walked and went to second on a Kyle Roller single.  After a strike out by Kelvin De Leon Mike Ferraro would single up the left field line for his second RBI of the night when Brown came across the plate.

In the bottom of the fourth the Yankees plated another run Jose Mojica started it off with an infield single to third base and went to second when Luis Parache singled.  Yankees catcher Jeff Farnham was next up and he laid down a bunt in an attempt to sacrifice the runners over but the pitcher was able to field the ball and throw out Mojica at third for a force out.  With runners at first and second Eduardo Sosa struck out swinging for the second out before Shane Brown doubled to right to bring home Mojica.  That gave Staten Island a 4-2 lead.

The Baby Bombers cemented their lead in bottom of the fifth when they plated their last two runs of the game.  Mike Ferraro singled with one-out before Jose Mojica had a two-out RBI double to centerfield.  Luis Parache was up next and he reached on a fielding error by the shortstop that allowed Mojica to come all the way home to score.

Williamsport added one more run to their line score in the top of the sixth but were unable to get anything going against the Staten Island relievers.

Starting the game and getting the win for the Staten Island Yankees was the left-hander Nik Turley.  Turley had a quality start going six innings allowing three runs on six hits and a walk.  He struck out five out of the 24 batters he faced.  He was followed by right-handers Nathan Forer, Tommy Kahnle and Chase Whitley who each threw a shutout inning a piece.  Whitley earned his eleventh save of the season when he pitched the ninth.

Monday night will be the rubber game of the series with left-hander Kramer Sneed taking the mound for Staten Island.

Notes: Catcher Francisco Arcia is officially out for the year with a broken finger after taking two fouls off of it last week.  He left the team after the game to go back to his home.  It is not known who will replace him on the roster yet.

The Staten Island Yankees continued to struggle to bring runners home as they fell to the rival Brooklyn Cyclones 3-1 at MCU Park in Brooklyn.  The Baby Bombers left seven runners stranded on base and was just 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Staten Island threatened first but was unable to get that big hit with runners on in the top of the third.  Casey Stevenson worked a walk then went to second on a ground out by Jeff Farnham.  After Garrison lined out to left Eduardo Sosa lined the ball into left field for a single and moving Stevenson over to third.  However after a long at bat and battle at the plate Shane Brown struck out swinging the pitch after fouling a ball off his hand.

Brooklyn plated the first three runs of the ballgame in their half of the third inning.  Juan Centeno doubled to center then went to third when Rylan Sandoval singled on a ground ball to center before scoring on a double by Darrell Ceciliani.  With two runners in scoring position Cory Vaugn sent the ball deep into center field for a sacrifice fly and bringing Ceciliani to third.  Jeff Flagg then sent the ball out to deep centerfield yet again for another sacrifice fly and giving the Cyclones a 3-0 lead.

The Baby Bombers plated their first and only run of the game in the top of the seventh inning.  Kelvin De Leon singled and went to second on a throwing error to lead off the inning.  After Kyle Roller grounded out to move him over to third Jose Mojica had a ground ball single to center to bring him home.

Staten Island Yankees Designated Hitter Kyle Roller was 2-for-4 in the game, raising his season batting average to .288.  Eduardo Sosa, Kelvin De Leon, Jose Mojica, Casey Stevenson and Garrison Lassiter had the other base hits for the Yankees.  Lassiter keeps his season average at the .333 mark and is batting .364 in his last ten games.

Yankees starter Zachary Varce was charged with the loss as he allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three.  He was followed by Bryant Cotton who pitched an inning and a third innings without allowing a runner to reach base.  He stretched is scoreless streak to eight innings over five games.  Mike Recchia pitched a shutout eighth to lower his ERA to 2.65.

Sunday afternoon the Yankees and Cyclones will face off in the second and last game of this quick two-game series.  Shane Greene is expected to start for Staten Island.

In front of a sold out crowd at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark the Staten Island Yankees fell short of the sweep when the Connecticut Tigers exploded for seven runs on twelve hits to take the final game of the three-game series.

Staten Island left a total of eight men on base throughout the night and was combined 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

The Tigers were the first to get on the board, plating two unearned runs in the top of the first inning.  PJ Polk starte the game reaching on a fielding error by Yankees third baseman Garrison Lassiter that allowed the ball to go into left field.  After a stolen base Ryan Enos sacrificed him over to third.  Alexander Nunez then struck out but a single by James Robbins allowed Polk to score and a throwing error by second baseman Casey Stevenson allowed Robbins to reach second.  With Josh Ashenbrenner at the plate starter Mike Gipson threw a wild pitch that went all the way to the backstop.  Yankees catcher Francisco Arcia lost the ball with the concrete background and the runner came all the way around to score.  Gipson allowed a third run in the top of the second inning when Eric Roof homered to right field.

Kelvin De Leon plated the only Staten Island run - File Photo Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

Staten Island plated their first and only run of the game in the bottom of the second inning.  Kelvin De Leon led the inning off with a walk.  He then went from first to third when Kyle Roller sent a ground ball to right field and came home to score when Jose Mojica grounded into a double play.

In the top of the fifth inning the Tigers plated three more runs to give them a 6-1 lead over Staten Island.  PJ Polk doubled with one-out then scored on a triple by Ryan Enos before Alexander Nunez struck out looking.  James Robbins then homered to right field to plate Enos and himself, after a single to Josh Ashenbrenner Josh Paul called to the bullpen for left-handed reliever Kramer Sneed who induced a ground out to first to end the inning.

Mike Gipson took the loss allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits striking out eight and walking none in his four and two-third innings.

Josh Paul was thrown out of the game in the sixth - File Photo Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

In the bottom of the sixth inning Staten Island Yankees manager Josh Paul was ejected from the game with Kelvin De Leon at the plate.  The umpire called a 2-0 pitch that was inside as a foul ball but it did not touch the bat.  Kelvin De Leon ended up striking out swinging.

In the top of the seventh inning the Tigers added another run to their line score.  Alexander Nunez reached base on a fielding error by third baseman Garrison Lassiter before James Robbins was hit by the pitch.  Josh Ashenbreener then lined a single into center field and Nunez was waved home on the play.  A perfect throw by Yankees center fielder Eduardo Sosa got the runner at the plate but a single by Matt Perry would bring home Robbins for the seventh Connecticut run, Perry was thrown out at second attempting to stretch it into a double to end the inning.

Kramer Sneed pitched three and a third inning allowing just a run on four hits while striking out two batters.  He was replaced by right-handed pitcher Andrew Shive in the top of the ninth who pitched a perfect ninth inning.

Casey Stevenson, Kevin Mahoney and Garrison Lassiter were the only Yankees to have a multi-hit game as they all had two base hits.  Kyle Roller and Jose Mojica had the other base hits for the Staten Island Yankees.

Notes: New York Yankees 2010 fifth round draft pick Tommy Kahnle has reportedly signed with the New York Yankees for $150,000 and is expected to be in a Staten Island Yankees uniform by Monday.  On August 27, 2010 the Staten Island Yankees will host Air Force Night as part of the Air Force Week-New York City festivities.  The Tops in Blue will perform God Bless America, the Air Force Honor Guard will present the colors and many Air Force airmen will be in attendance.

The Staten Island Yankees improved their season record to 19-16 thanks to a solo home run by Yankees second baseman Casey Stevenson in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Other than that shot it was mostly quiet for both offenses as pitching was the highlight.  Baby Bombers starter Mikey O’Brien threw six shutout innings to get his league leading sixth win allowing just four hits and two walks on 77 pitches while striking out three of the 23 batters he faced.

He was followed by Matt Jernstad, Preston Claiborne and Chase Whitley who each threw an inning a piece.  Claiborne and Whitley each struck out the side in the eighth and ninth inning respectively.  Chase earned his ninth save of the season which is tied for the league lead.

Casey Stevenson led the Staten Island offense with two hits, the homerun and a single.  Kelvin De Leon, Jose Mojica, Garrison Lassiter and Shane Brown had the other four Yankees hits.

Tomorrow night the Staten Island Yankees and Connecticut Tigers will play the second game of the three-game set with left-hander Nik Turley expected to take the hill for the Yankees.

In a long three hour and thirteen minute game the Staten Island Yankees fell to the visiting Hudson Valley Renegades to lose their second straight game.

The Staten Island Yankees started the scoring off in the bottom of the second inning when catcher Francisco Arcia sent a fly ball over the right-field fence for his second homerun of the season.

Mikey O'Brien threw 84 pitches over 4 innings - Photo Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

Hudson Valley responded by plating two runs of their own in the top of the third inning off of Yankees starter Mikey O’Brien.  O’Brien was credited with his first loss of the season as he allowed another two runs in the top of the fourth inning, only three of the runs were earned on three hits, five walks while striking out just one on 84 pitches.

Staten Island added a run to their line score in the bottom of third inning.  Luis Parache doubled to center before going to third base after Casey Stevenson struck out and was thrown out at first after the ball got away.  Kelvin De Leon was up next and he sent the ball into left field for an RBI single.

Wilton Rodriguez came into the game to pitch for the Yankees in the top of the fifth inning.  He allowed two runs in the fifth inning.  Rodriguez threw a total of three innings allowing those three runs on three hits, two walks and striking out two.

Kevin Mahoney hit his fifth homer - Photo Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

In the bottom of the sixth inning the Staten Island Yankees added another run when Kevin Mahoney hit a solo-homerun to right field.  The fourth Yankees run in the bottom of the seventh.  Casey Stevenson and Kelvin De Leon earned back-to-back walks to start off the inning.  After a pitching change and two outs Francisco Arcia lined the ball into left to plate Stevenson and cut the Renegade lead to three runs.

Mike Recchia took over on the hill for the Staten Island Yankees in the eighth inning throwing a scoreless eighth allowing a hit.  Chase Whitley took over for the ninth inning with a perfect inning of relief.

Tomorrow night the Staten Island Yankees travel across the Verrazano Bridge to start a four-game home-and-home series with the Brooklyn Cyclones.  Nik Turley is expected to start the first game of the series.

Notes: Andrew Shive was assigned the Staten Island Yankees from the Charleston RiverDogs.  Shive is coming back from Tommy John surgery that he had after the 2008 season.

Staten Island Yankees starting pitcher Mike Gipson threw six-no hit innings but lost the bid for history in the sixth inning when he allowed two consecutive base-hits to the Lake Monsters.

Gipson entered the rotation on June 29 taking the spot of Samuel Elam after opening the season in the bullpen.  He went six innings to earn his first professional victory allowing just a run on two hits and striking out for while not walking anyone.

Kyle Roller File Photo - Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

The Staten Island offense was lead by the middle of the order as Kelvin De Leon, Kyle Roller and Kevin Mahoney collected two hits apiece.  However ever member of the Staten Island Yankees lineup did collect a base hit in the game as they hit a combined 12 off of one of the best pitching staffs in the league.  Kevin Mahoney had three-RBIs thanks to a three-run home run in the sixth.

The scoring began in the top of the second after Kyle Roller doubled to left to lead off the inning and went to third when Francisco Arcia grounded out with an out on the board.  Shane Brown then singled to center to bring him in and give the Yankees an early 1-0 lead.

Staten Island added another run in the top of the third inning.  Jeff Farnham lined a single to left to start off the inning, and then went to second when Kelvin De Leon singled with two outs before scoring on an RBI single to right by Kyle Roller.

The biggest inning for the Yankees was the top of the fifth.  Casey Stevenson started it off with a fly ball homerun to right field then Kelvin De Leon singled, and stole second with one out.  Kevin Mahoney walked to put men at first and second before Francisco Arcia singled to right scoring De Leon and moving Mahoney to third.  With men at the corners and only one out the Lake Monsters went to the bullpen for a reliever.  Francisco Arcia went running, stealing second base and an errant throw by the pitcher that went all the way into the corner allowed Mahoney and Arcia to score.

Kevin Mahoney File Photo - Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

Staten Island added three more in the top of the sixth inning.  Eduardo Sosa doubled to start the inning before Kelvin De Leon worked a one-out walk.  After a pop out to second, Kevin Mahoney lined a shot over the right-field fence for his fourth homerun of the season and giving the Yankees a 9-0 lead.

The insurance runs proved useful as the Lake Monsters touched Yankees relievers Richard Martinez and Manny Barreda for five runs in an inning and two-thirds.  Preston Claiborne finished up the game for Staten Island pitching an inning and a third of perfect baseball, striking out two and earning his second save of the season.

Tomorrow night the Staten Island Yankees and the Vermont Lake Monsters will face off in the rubber game of the three game set with Zachary Varce expected to take the hill for the Baby Bombers.

Notes: The first and only no-hitter in Staten Island Yankees took place on July 27, 2001 when pitcher Jason Arnold pitched nine-innings to no-hit the Vermont Expos at Centennial Field in Vermont.

“I’m glad he’s my center fielder,” that is what Staten Island Yankees reliever Mike Recchia had to say when asked about his thoughts on Eduardo Sosa.

Eduardo Sosa was one of several international free agent players that the New York Yankees signed on July 2, 2007.  He along with fellow 2010 Staten Island Yankees Kelvin De Leon and Jose Mojica were considered some of the top players eligible for that signing class and made his professional debut the following season with the Dominican Summer League Yankees2 team.

In 2008 Sosa batted .315 with 18 doubles, 5 triples and 4 homeruns for in the Dominican Summer League.  He finished the season tied for third in the league with 80 hits and recorded at least one hit in 25 of his first 27 games.  He was best against right-handers as he was 68 for 213 against them (.319 average) and had 25 of his extra base hits against righties.

Eduardo made his United States debut last year with the Gulf Coast League Yankees where he struggled in 49 games.  In 165 at bats he had only a .200 batting average.  He had just 33 base hits, 7 of them doubles with a 1 triple and 2 homeruns.

Eduardo Sosa - File Photo Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

Sosa has a very high ceiling, projecting as a possible major league regular in the future.  He was compared favorable to Johnny Damon when first signed except with an average to an above-average arm.  Eduardo is expected to be a solid hitter throughout his career and posses great speed running a 6.6 second 60-yard dash.  He does not project to have much power as he matures but will be a threat on the base paths.

“It seems like he’s always on base and then he can steel on u so if u walk him it’s like giving up a double,” said Staten Island Yankees pitcher Nik Turley.

Coming into the 2010 season BaseballDigest.com ranked Eduardo Sosa as the 26th best prospect in the New York Yankees farm system and was projected to spend the 2010 season with the Staten Island Yankees.  Come June 18 he was on the roster and in the starting lineup for the Baby Bombers batting ninth against the Brooklyn Cyclones.  In the first series of the season he hit just .250 and continued to struggle through the first few series but started coming alive at the plate hitting .304 in his last ten games raising his season average to .283.  So far in 2010 he has hit eight doubles, a triple and a homerun.

Left-handed pitchers have not been a problem for the young Eduardo Sosa as he is hitting .313 against them with four doubles and four walks.  Five of his nine stolen bases came with left-handers on the hill.  Sosa has had success in front of the home crowd, hitting .302 at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

Sosa has not only been impressive at the plate lately but has been one of the top defenders on the Staten Island Yankees this season.  “He gets after it in the outfield,” said Turley.  “He always plays hard and he covers a lot of ground. You know when the ball gets hit out there there’s a good chance it’ll be caught.”

Eduardo Sosa - File Photo Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

“I’d say he reminds of a left-handed Shane Victorino because he always plays hard and gets after it; either him or Jacoby Ellsburry, a solid outfielder and leadoff guy,” Turley added.

He has demonstrated excellent range and the ability to make some amazing plays in centerfield for Staten Island.  His play prevented many possible extra base hits from happening and saved many runs from scoring.

When you have a player like that in the outfielder it gives the pitching staff some reassurance out there.  “It makes pitching a lot easier knowing you have that much speed and a good glove in center,” said starter Zachary Varce.

“He covers a lot of ground and he takes a lot of stress off us pitchers when there’s a deep ball hit,” said Recchia.  “He takes great routes to balls and has good knowledge of what to do quickly with the ball when runners on base.”

Recchia’s comment seems to sum up the feelings the Staten Island Yankees pitching staff has about Sosa.  Zachary Varce added, “He covers an incredible amount of ground and tracks down everything. If something is hit hard in the air that there is a good chance that it will be caught.”

With it being only the second month of the 2010 season it seems likely that Eduardo Sosa will continue to impress those in attendance at Staten Island Yankees games both in the dugouts and in the stands.

The Staten Island Yankees fell to the host Jamestown Jammers for the second time when the Jammers got to Yankees starter Shane Greene and reliever Wilton Rodriguez for five runs on twelve hits.

Right-handed pitcher Shane Greene went four and two-third innings allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and a walk while striking out five.  Wilton Rodriguez was next and he went three and a third innings allowing a run on four hits.

The Yankees on the other hand were only able to muster up one run on five hits off of four Jammer pitchers.\

Eduardo Sosa, Kevin Mahoney, Shane Brown, Jose Mojica and Kelvin De Leon accounted for the five Yankee hits. De Leon scored the only Staten Island run.

Tomorrow is the final game of the three-game set with right-hander Mikey O’Brien set to take the hill for the Staten Island Yankees