Rapids starter Ryan Peters Celebrating His Complete Game. Timothy Charvat, 2024.
It was Independence Day, and the Utica Blue Sox were not in a celebratory mode. After losing to the Watertown Rapids 10-6 in extra innings the night of July 3, the Sox were on the road again looking for payback.
Unfortunately, the script would remain unchanged, as the Sox were defeated on July 4 by the Rapids 7-4.
Rapids Strike First
The Rapids would pick up right where they left off in the bottom of the first. With runners on the corners and nobody out, second baseman Nick Bergamotto would connect for a two-run double off Blue Sox starter Daury Rodriguez to Watertown in the early lead.
Nick Bergamotto Getting the Rapids on the Board. Timothy Charvat, 2024
Later in the inning, with runners on second and third and two men out, designated hitter Mason Collins would connect for a two-run double of his own to put the Rapids up 4-0.
Blue Sox Strike Back
The Blue Sox would respond in the top of the third. With runners on second and third and two men out, first baseman Norris McClure would connect for a two-run single off Rapids starter Ryan Peters, putting the Sox on the board and cutting the deficit 4-2.
Norris McClure Putting the Sox on the Board. Timothy Charvat, 2024.
Back and Forth Tension
After a rocky first, Rodriguez would settle in, retiring nine of the next ten batters he faced to keep the Blue Sox in the game. But he would run into trouble in the bottom of the fifth.
With runners on second and third and two men out, Rodriguez would throw a wild pitch to Bergamotto, allowing a run to score, putting Watertown up 5-2. He then got first baseman Ryan Kramer to fly out, ending his night with five runs allowed (two earned), four hits, four runs and two strikeouts.
After being held scoreless over the previous two innings, the Blue Sox threatened in the top of the sixth. With runners on the corners and two men out, Omar Carreras would connect for a deep single to right field, allowing both runners to score, making it a 5-4 ballgame.
Pitching Standoff
Over the next few innings, the tension was high in the stadium. Giovanni Canales would take over for Rodriguez in the bottom of the sixth and after working out of a two on and two out jam, would hold the Rapids scoreless for the next two innings.
Unfortunately for the Blue Sox, Peters was dealing tonight. Fueled by losing his last start to the Sox on June 25, he would continue to pitch deep into the night, getting better as the night went on.
Rapids Secure the Win
The Rapids would break the game open in the bottom of the eighth. With runners on second and third with two men out, third baseman Chazz Crook would hit a soft ground ball that Blue Sox shortstop Yomar Carreras would mishandle, allowing the Rapids to push their lead further. Canales would then throw a wild pitch to center fielder Seth Myers to put Watertown up 7-4.
This would make it easy for Rapid manager Mike Kogut to send Peters out for the ninth, despite already throwing over 120 pitches. Peters would reward Kogut’s trust by pitching a solid frame, ending the game by getting center fielder Todd Abraham to fly out, and solidifying his second complete game of the season, allowing four runs (two earned), ten hits, three walks and seven strikeouts on 140 total pitches.
Notable Stats
Ryan Peters would lower his ERA to 2.03 on the season, which is tied for seventh best in the PGCBL.
Daury Rodriguez would lower his ERA to 2.53, which is tenth best in the PGCBL.
Norris McClure would steal his fourteenth base in the top of the first inning which not only is tied for third best in the PGCBL but is also his 30th career stolen base for the Blue Sox, which tied for second on the team’s all-time list.
What’s Next
The Sox return on Friday, July 5 as they face off against the Albany Baseball Club in doubleheader action. The first pitch is at 5:15 p.m. for game one, and game two will commence thirty minutes after the first game’s completion.
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