Whitley Earns Fourth Save in Baby Bomber Win

Chase Whitley earned his league leading fourth save as the Staten Island Yankees made a couple of comebacks as they exploded for ten runs on fourteen hits to defeat the hosting Aberdeen Ironbirds and even the series at one game apiece.

The Yankees fell behind early when the Ironbirds hit a total of four singles and got one walk between three strike outs for three runs off of Yankees starter Mike Gipson. The right-hander made his first start of the season, taking the rotation spot of left-hander Samuel Elam. Gipson went just two innings allowing base runners to reach base in only the first inning while striking out five batters.

In the top half of the second inning the Baby Bombers plated their first run of the night. Mike Ferraro, Nick McCoy, and Jose Mojica all hit back-to-back-to-back singles with one-out to load the bases before Kevin Mahoney hit a sacrifice fly to center to plate Ferraro.

Staten Island tied the game up in the top of the third. Casey Stevenson started it off reaching base via being hit by a pitch with one-out and moved to second when Shane Brown singled to center. Both runners would score when Kelvin De Leon doubled to right on a ground ball tying the game up at three.

After the Ironbirds took the lead once more in the bottom of the third the Yankees would strike back once more in the top of the fourth to take the lead for the first time. Staten Island tied the game when Kevin Mahoney homered on a fly ball to dead centerfield. Luis Parache then walked and went to third on an Isaiah Brown single before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Casey Stevenson.

Aberdeen tied the game again in the bottom of the fourth and the teams would remain tied until the Yankees took the lead for the second and final time in the top of the sixth inning. Kevin Mahoney started the sixth inning getting hit by the pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Luis Parache. Isaiah Brown then walked before Aberdeen made a pitching change. Casey Stevenson was up next and he doubled on a fly ball to left to plate Mahoney and move Brown to third. Shane Brown was next up and he grounded out to third base for the second out, gaining a RBI in the process.

The Ironbirds plated one more run in the bottom of the seventh to make it a one-run game but a three run ninth gave the Baby Bombers some insurance. Kelvin De Leon started the ninth off with a single to center and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Nick McCoy was then hit by the pitch before Jose Mojica singled to load the pases for Kevin Mahoney who doubled to plate both De Leon and McCoy. With two runners in scoring position Luis Parache hit a sacrifice fly to right field for the tenth Yankees run.

Every player in the Staten Island starting lineup reached base and came across the plate to score. Four players had two hits in the game including Casey Stevenson, Kelvin De Leon, Nick McCoy, and Kevin Mahoney. Jose Mojica had three hits. Mahoney had a total of four RBIs in the game the most out of any of the players.

Richard Martinez earned the win for the Baby Bombers going four innings and allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits and two walks while striking out four. Bryant Cotton pitched an inning allowing a run on a hit and a walk while striking out one. Mike Recchia pitched a perfect inning after him before Fred Lewis took over in the ninth. Lewis allowed two runs, one earned on a hit and a walk. Chase Whitley earned his league leading fourth save pitching the final two-thirds of the ninth allowing just one hit while striking out two.

Tomorrow night the Staten Island Yankees and Aberdeen Ironbirds will face off in the rubber game of the three game set. Right-hander Mikey O’Brien will get the ball, making his third start of the season.