The second inning start did make for a different vibe. Although the score was tied, it was Jorge Posada leading off the inning. Justin Verlander’s pitching line was being read in the background of the pressbox. But, Doug Fister and Ivan Nova were the story of the early part of the game. Fister was never a strikeout pitcher. He came into the season averaging just 5 strikeouts per nine innings, which is barely a total sustainable in order to be an average Major League pitcher. Since coming to Detroit in a mid-season trade with the Mariners, Fister has dramatically increased his strikeout total, striking out 7.3 batters per nine innings. He did strikeout 6 in 4.2 innings. Fister, however, is a pitcher who relies on pinpoint control in order to compensate for sub par stuff. For his first three innings of work, he was able to hit his spots. He began to show signs in the fifth as the Yankees’ were noticeably aggressive and making better contact. Fister showed the positive and negative of his game in the start. He’s one of the most well prepared pitchers in the game, which helps him attack hitters. But, his stuff doesn’t allow for mistakes. The final line–4.2 innings, 6 runs on 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts–is ugly and doesn’t indicate how well he pitched in his first few innings.

Meanwhile the Yankees’ Ivan Nova’s poise was noticeable in his first playoff experience. He’d throw two clean innings before running into trouble in the fifth inning. He walked Alex Avila, which was followed up by two singles. On the second single, Avila tried to score, but was called out as a result of a perfect relay from Curtis Granderson to Derek Jeter to Russell Martin. Nova would walk a batter in each of the next two innings, but would limit the damage from there. After the fifth inning, Nova was staked to a big lead, but his poise during the tie game gives an indication of his makeup, even if he couldn’t finish the game. The Yankees’ rookie would get the win with 6.1 innings, allowing 4 hits, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts.

Nova would have to fight the typical nerves that all pitchers face with their first playoff appearance. ”I was excited and had to slow down everything,” said Nova, ”A quick inning like in a situation like today just lets you know that everything is the same (as the regular season).”

His Manager agreed.  ”I thought he controlled his emotions well. He didn’t have his best stuff, but he pitched to contact was able to give us a great game. He almost allowed us to not use or bullpen,” said Joe Girardi.

Game one may have been the moment the world finally got to know Robinson Cano. Cano has been an All-Star for the past two seasons. He finished third in last season’s MVP voting. But, Cano has been one of the game’s best players for the past few seasons. It has been a while since a single player dominated a playoff game. Robinson Cano dominated game one of the Division Series. Cano drove in the Yankees’ second run with a double off the top of the left field wall. In the sixth inning, he hit a 0-1 pitch  out for a grand slam. He would double in the Yankees 9th run in the eighth inning with another double. His 3 for 5 day contained 2 doubles, a homerun, and 6 RBI was just the type of night to give a National audience a glimpse into the player Cano has been for the past two years.

The lone questionable decision of the game was Jim Leyland’s choice to bring in Al Albuquerque, a right hander,  to face Cano in the sixth inning with the bases loaded. While the situation may have been suited for a left handed reliever, it didn’t matter with someone such as Cano. The Yankees’ second baseman performs equally with a .314/.354/.525 slash line against southpaws compared to a .296/.347/.537 against right handers. Cano isn’t a hitter where a Manager would choose a specialist. Instead, he chooses the best reliever. Leyland brought in Albuquerque who pitched 43.1 innings during the regular season while allowing just 21 hits, 9 runs, 29 walks, and 67 strikeouts. Most importantly, he hadn’t given up a h0merun all season. The move was the proper one. Cano just did what elite hitters do; they hit anyone.

“That’s one for everyone to second guess. To me, it was a no brainer. Lefties are hitting .177 against him. Cano is hitting .314 against left handers. That’s why he’s (Albuquerque) so valuable for us. He gets both right handers and left handers out. If Granderson gets a hit, I bring in Schlereth, but Alberquerque has been one of the best in the game at stranding runners.”

For Cano, the ascension the central part of the Yankees’ attack is complete. Joe Girardi saw this coming. “You look at what he’s done for us the last few years for us, he’s been a force. You look at the damage he did last year in the playoffs. We’ve talked about moving him up, but we’ve had players blocking him. He’s blossomed into a great player,” said the Yankees Manager. Girardi does deserve credit for moving Cano to the third spot in the order at the end of the season. If not for the move, Cano doesn’t have the opportunities. With Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez struggling, the same result isn’t guaranteed.

The move to the third spot hasn’t changed Cano at all. It is merely a conclusion from mastering and honing his skills. ”I think he’s learned to pull the ball, drive the ball, and I think he’s learned how to hit in big situations,” stated Girardi. The Yankees Manager also likes that Cano hasn’t changed anything. ”It (his success) tells me that he doesn’t change his approach, which is what you want from him”

The Tigers tried to make it interesting in the ninth by scoring 2 runs in the ninth, but Joe Girardi did something a bit different. At the start of the inning, Mariano Rivera was tossing in the bullpen. It was probably just the beginning of a side session to get some work in, but with the bases loaded and a six run lead, Rivera was ready quickly. He struck out Wilson Betemit to end the game.

Down by one game, the Tigers will turn to Max Scherzer, a high strikeout pitcher who is flyball prone. Originally, he was to start game three in Detroit, a much better environment rather than the homerun haven of Yankee Stadium. Scherzer averages 8 K/9 and was 2-0 in his two starts against the Yankees. Those starts show the best and worst Scherzer has to offer. He struck out 15 batters in 13 innings, but allowed 4 homeruns and 6 runs in the process. He’ll be opposed by the Freddy Garcia, the former power pitcher turned crafty veteran. Garcia isn’t a strikeout pitcher (5.9 K/9), but he is someone who relies on change of speed and location to be successful. In his one start against the Tigers, he allowed 10 hits and 4 runs in 7 innings. He did, however, strike out 8 batters. Garcia also might have fared better in Detroit, but he’s thrown to a 3.98 ERA in 13 starts at Yankee Stadium.

Although the Yankees won the first game, game two is likely very important. Joe Girardi hinted at that after the game, “They are a dangerous club and we know that. It’s always nice to win the first one, but tomorrow is an important game.” Tomorrow is an important game because of the rainout aftershocks. The Tigers already adjusted their rotation. Girardi announced his after the game. ”Right now, we are planning on CC on Monday and AJ on Tuesday,” said Girardi. That means the Yankees have a Garcia for game two, followed by the marquee match up in game three and A.J. Burnett in game four. There is quite a bit of uncertainty with Verlander having the ability to dominate the Yankees bats and Burnett being so inconsistent. The Yankees needed game one, but game two looks to be even more important.

As the Brooklyn Cyclones were just starting to put together a two-out rally against Yankees right-hander Branden Pinder, Cyclones right-fielder Javier Rodriguez sent a fly ball into right field that looked like it would fall in for a base hit but Staten Island right-fielder Ben Gamel had ideas of his own. Gamel flew thru the air and made an incredible diving catch to end the game and give the Staten Island Yankees their first win of the 2011 season.

Right-handed pitcher William Oliver, a 35th Round pick from last year’s draft, made the start for the Baby Bombers. Oliver struck out eight Cyclone batters but also allowed four hits and two walks in his four innings of work. He was relieved by Dustin Hobbs who earned the win throwing two innings allowing a run on a walk and two hits.

Staten Island was the first to put runs on the board in the contest. In the top of the fifth inning Ben Gamel started it off with a fly ball double to right and ten moved to third when Reymond Nunez singled to center. After a walk to Casey Stevenson loaded the bases, Shane Brown flew out to short-right field before Jhorge Liccien sent a sacrifice fly to deep right-field to bring in Gamel. Robert Rinard then lined a single to center to bring in Nunez, giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead.

The Yankees went to add an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning after Angelo Gumbs drew a one-out walk, stole second and moved to third on a ground out before scoring on a line drive single to center by Reymond Nunez. But in the bottom of the inning the Cyclones plated their first run after Richard Lucas singled and then scored on a Travis Taijeron double.

Phillip Wetherell came into the game to make his professional debut in the seventh inning. Wetherel allowed a hit and struck out two on 25 pitches, 14 for strikes. He was followed by Zach Arneson who also made his professional debut and struck out one in his inning on 11 pitches, 8 for strikes.

Brandon Pinder then came into the game for the ninth inning. After two quick outs Daniel Muno doubled to right then went to third on a wild pitch. He then came home on a single to center by Brandon Brown. Next up at the plate was Javier Rodriguez who was not an easy out for the Yankee pitcher. After seeing many pictures he sent the ball flying into right field where Ben Gamel made his incredible catch.

Tomorrow night these two teams will meet up again with New York Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes making his rehab start for the Staten Island Yankees. That game will start at 5:00.

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.

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 against the cross-town rival Brooklyn Cyclones with a 8-7 victory to give them six wins over them this season.

Shane Brown had two hits two RBIs - Photo Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

Staten Island was the first to get on the board and never looked back. In the top of the first inning the Yankees plated five runs off of Brooklyn starting pitcher Chris Hillard. Eduardo Sosa led off the game with a fly ball single to centerfield and then stole second base. After a strike out by Casey Stevenson, Kevin Mahoney grounded out to second to move Sosa to third. The Baby Bomber Designated Hitter Kyle Roller was next and he grounded the ball up the middle for an RBI single. Roller went to second when catcher Francisco Arcia singled to left. Jose Mojica then walked to load the bases for Shane Brown who doubled to left to bring home Roller and Arcia. With two runners in scoring position Luis Parache hit a fly ball to left field for a two-RBI single.

In the top of the third inning the Yankees plated another run. Kyle Roller started the inning with a ground ball double to left, went to third on a ground out by Francisco Arcia and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jose Mojica.

Bryant Cotton earned his first professional win - Photo Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

Starting the game for Staten Island was right-handed pitcher Zachary Varce. Varce pitched four innings allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three. Bryant Cotton took over on the mound in the fifth inning for Varce. Cotton pitched two shutout innings allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out two to earn his first professional win.

In the top of the seventh inning the Baby Bombers added two more insurance runs after Kevin Mahoney doubled and Kyle Roller hit a bomb to left-centerfield.

Mike Recchia came into the game to pitch the bottom of the seventh. He was touched four three runs on three hits with all the runs scoring on a homerun by Brian Harrison. The Staten Island closer Chase Whitley came into the game for the bottom of the eighth inning. Whitey pitched two shutout innings to earn his eighth save of the season, allowing two hits while striking out three.

Shane Brown had two hits and two RBIs in the game while Eduardo Sosa, Kevin Mahoney, Francisco Arcia and Luis Parache have the other four Staten Island base hits.

Monday night these two teams will end their four-game series at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George with right-hander Shane Greene expected to make the start for Staten Island.

In front of a sellout crowd at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark the Staten Island Yankees defeated the rival Brooklyn Cyclones, 3-2 to snap their recent three game losing streak.

The Brooklyn Cyclones were the ones to strike first platting a single run in the top of the first inning off of Yankees starter Mike Gipson.

Staten Island would remain run-less until the bottom of the third inning when they put a three spot in the line score.  Catcher Jeff Farnham started it off working a walk before Eduardo Sosa singled on a bunt back to the pitcher to put men at first and second.  Wild pitches with Casey Stevenson at the plate lead to both runners advancing 90-feet.   Stevenson then sent the ball all the way to the wall in right field just missing a homerun by less than a feet but did get the RBI on the sacrifice fly.  With a runner at third, Staten Island first baseman Kevin Mahoney then launched the ball to dead centerfield for his sixth homerun of the season, hitting hard off of the batters eye and giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead.

Mike Gipson struck out 5 in 5 1/3 innings - Photo Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

Brooklyn plated their second run in the top of the fifth inning off of Mike Gipson.  Gipson finished up the night allowing just those two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five in five and a third innings of work. He earned the win, his second of the season.  Preston Claiborne relieved him in the sixth inning going an inning and two thirds not allowing a hit but walked two and struck out one.  Mike Recchia threw a scoreless inning, allowing a hit and striking out one before Chase Whitley closed it down in the ninth allowing a hit and a walk while he was on his way to earn his seventh save of the year.

Jose Mojica collected 2 hits to bring his average up to .287 - Photo Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

Kevin Mahoney was 2 for 2 on the night with his 2 RBIs coming on the homerun and working two walks to raise his average to .302 on the season.  Jose Mojica aso had two hits, both of them were doubles.  Eduardo Sosa, Casey Stevenson and Kyle Roller had the other three Yankees hits of the night.

Tonight the Staten Island Yankees and Brooklyn Cyclones will play game three in this four-game home-and-home series.  Zachary Varce is expected to make the start for the Baby Bombers.

Notes: With the win the Staten Island Yankees move to 5-3 in the Battle of the Boroughs, the annual season series against their cross-town rival Brooklyn Cyclones.

The Staten Island Yankees dropped their third straight game to the cross-town rival Brooklyn Cyclones, falling to 16-15 for the season and six games behind first.

Nik Turley pitching - Photo Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

Nik Turley was charged with the loss, allowing eight earned runs on nine hits and two errors and striking out three Cyclones in three and two third innings.  Turley has struggled a bit in his last two starts, allowing a total of 15 runs, 12 earned, and 15 hits over 9 innings.

Nathan Forer allowed two runs, one earned, over his two and a third innings of work before Preston Claiborne struck out all three batters he faced for a perfect inning in relief.  Right-handed pitcher Andrew Shive made his Staten Island Yankees return after sitting out the 2009 season because of Tommy John surgery.  He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in an inning of work.

The Baby Bombers plated their first runs in the top of the second inning, taking an early lead.  Kyle Roller singled on a ground ball to right field and then stole second with one out before Shane Brown sent a fly ball over the left field fence for his second homerun of the 2010 season.

Garrison Lassiter had two hits - Photo Credit: Robert M Pimpsner

Brooklyn took a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the second and then added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth before Staten Island placed a five spot of their own on the board in the top of the fifth inning.  Jose Mojica started it off reaching on a throwing error by the second baseman and then went to third when Casey Stevenson singled with one out.  After Mojica scored on a sacrifice fly by Francisco Arcia Kelvin De Leon reached on a fielding error by the shortstop.  Stevenson then scored and De Leon went to thrid when Kyle Roller reached on a fielding error by the second baseman before Kevin Mahoney was hit by the pitch.  De Leon and Roller came around to score when Shane Brown grounded a ball to left field.  Garrison Lassiter singled to right to bring in Mahoney and the Yankees had their seven runs of the game.

Garrison Lassiter, Shane Brown, and Kyle Roller each had two hits apiece in the game.

The biggest defensive mistake for the Yankees came in the bottom of the sixth inning with two-outs.  With a man on first Jeff Flagg lined the ball to left field for a double, the entire Yankees infield along with the pitcher and catcher was on the left side when Shane Brown threw the ball to second base with no one to cover, allowing the run to score and Flagg to end up at third.  Staten Island right-fielder Kelvin De Leon had to come in from right field to retrieve the ball before Flagg could score.

Tonight night the Staten Island Yankees and Brooklyn Cyclones face off in the second game of the series with right-hander Mike Gipson expected to make the start for Staten Island.

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, NY – In front of an intimate crowd of 1,930 fans the Staten Island Yankees fell to the visiting Batavia Muckdogs in fifteen innings.  By the end of the night only a few people remained and they were treat to the pitching debuts of a couple of the Yankees position players.

Nik Turley started the game for the Baby Bombers allowing two runs to score, one in the first and another in the third, on three this and two walks.  He struck out four out of the 17 batters he faced on 81 pitches.

The Yankees were able to come back and tie the game up in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Kyle Roller started it off reaching first base on a hit by pitch and then came around to score thanks to a fly ball double to right field by Staten Island right fielder Kelvin De Leon.  After a pitching chance and a strike out De Leon came around to score when catcher Francisco Arcia had a double to right field.

Manny Barreda came into the game in the fifth inning pitching two shutout innings allowing just a hit and striking out three.  Nathan Forer was after him throwing two perfect innings, striking out three batters.

In the bottom of the ninth inning Staten Island attempted a rally.  Shane Brown worked a walk before moving to second on a perfectly placed bunt by Luis Parache.  After a passed ball moved Parache over to third Eduardo Sosa was hit on the elbow.  The Yankees trainer came out and looked at him at first base but he stayed in the game.  Sosa then stole second base to put two runners in scoring position with two outs.

Preston Claiborne came into the game to pitch the ninth inning but went two innings for the Yankees.  Claiborne allowed a hit and walk while striking out three of the six batters.  Chase Whitley took over on the mound for the eleventh inning; he walked two and struck out one.

Because the Yankees pitching staff has been used up the past couple games Josh Paul brought in catcher Jeffrey Farnham to pitch the twelfth inning.  Farnham had two strikeouts and four walks in two innings before Kevin Mahoney took over.  Farnham went to play third with Shane Brown going to second base.

Kevin Mahoney had a scoreless 14^th inning but had to work out of bases loaded trouble.  In the top of the 15^th he allowed four runs, including a three-run homerun to left field for the loss.

In the bottom of the fifteenth inning the Yankees plated some more runs.  Kyle Roller reached base thanks to an error by the Batavia second baseman.  Kevin Mahoney then had a RBI double to right field for the third run.  Francisco Arcia then lined the ball over the right field fence to make it a one-run game.  Shane Brown then worked a walk with two outs before a pitching change.  Luis Parache grounded the ball to the first baseman for the final out of the game.

Game Photo Gallery

The Staten Island Yankees continued their hot play has they won their eighth straight game and moved 2.5 games above the cross-town Brooklyn Cyclones to become the team with the second best record in the New York-Penn League.

Making his first start of the season for the Staten Island Yankees after being called up from the Gulf Coast League was the left-hander Nik Turley.  Turley had a very strong outing pitching six innings of one run ball, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out six batters.  That lone run came in the second inning.  Turley is sure to contribute to a very strong pitching rotation that has seen terrific outings as of late by Shane Greene and consistent solid outings by Mikey O’Brien.

The Baby Bombers plated their first run in the top of the third inning to tie the game up at one.  Isaiah Brown led off with a walk and then went to third on a one-out single to right by Eduardo Sosa.  Shane Brown was next at the plate and he sent a fly ball to left field that plated Isaiah Brown and tie the game up at one run.

Staten Island would take the lead in the top of the fifth inning.  With two-outs Eduardo Sosa worked a walk to bring Shane Brown to the plate.  Brown then sent the ball over the left field fence for a two-run homerun, his first homerun of the season.

In the top of the seventh inning the Yankees plated two more runs.  Eduardo Sosa lead off the inning working a walk and then stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the catcher.  After a strike out he scored on a line drive single to left by Kyle Roller.  The bases would then be loaded with bases after Kelvin De Leon and Kevin Mahoney worked back-to-back walks.  The second run came when Nick McCoy grounded out to second to bring home Roller.

Richard Martinez took over on the mound for the Staten Island Yankees in the seventh inning.  He got into trouble walking the bases loaded but sandwiched two strikeouts in between the walks before getting a ground out to end the inning.

Bryant Cotton pitched the eighth inning and got into some trouble.  With one-out he gave up back-to-back singles to Andy Fermin and Carlos Perez before striking out Stephen McQuail.  Joseph Bowen then homered to right-field to score three runs and make it a one-run ballgame.

Staten Island closer Chase Whitley was next on the mound for the Yankees, coming into the game with a one-run lead in the ninth.  He got into some trouble and was credited with a blown save when he allowed a run on one hit and a walk.

With two-outs in the top of the tenth inning the Staten Island Yankees took the lead for the final time in the game.  Luis Parache reached on a fielding error by the right-fielder that also allowed him to go all the way around to third.  He then scored the go ahead and winning run for the Baby Bombers when Eduardo Sosa singled on a fly ball to left field.

Chase Whitley was awarded the win and Mike Recchia pitched the bottom of the tenth inning to earn his first save.

The Staten Island Yankees and the rest of the New York-Penn League will now enjoy a rare off day before returning to the Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Thursday night to face the Tri-City Valley Cats.