The Mohawks Celebrating the Win. Timothy Charvat, 2024.
Times are hard for the Utica Blue Sox. After losing 10-4 to the Watertown Rapids, the Sox were looking to rebound as they returned home to face off against the Amsterdam Mohawks.
Instead, the Blue Sox would fall 8-3.
Mohawks Set the Tone Early
In the top of the first, the Mohawks would immediately threaten against Blue Sox starter Giovanni Canales. With the bases loaded and two men out, center fielder Michael O’Brien would connect for a single to left fielder Damien Witty, where the Mohawks would take the early 1-0 lead.
Witty would make an incredible throw to get the trail runner out at the plate and limit the damage.
The Mohawks would tack on another run in the top of the second inning. With runners on second and third and one man out, shortstop Rob Rispoli would beat out an infield hit, doubling the lead 2-0.
Nelson Dominates the Blue Sox
Drew Nelson would come out to play for Amsterdam, as he would keep the Blue Sox hitless through the first three innings of play. The Sox would show patience in the early at bats, as they managed to work four walks.
The Blue Sox would attempt to respond in the bottom of the second, as they would work back-to-back walks to set up runners on first and second and, with one man out, Griffen would work out of trouble, striking out second baseman Gabe Cavazzoni and extra hitter Trace Hartman to end the inning.
An Exclamation Point
The Mohawks would blow the game wide open in the top of the fourth. Charlie Collins would replace Canales in the previous inning and would work into trouble. With runners on the corners and nobody out, designated hitter Liam Wilson would connect for an RBI single to increase the lead further.
Two batters later, Rispoli would squeeze a bunt past Collins to put the Mohawks ahead, going up even more. In the next at bat, left fielder Javier Williams would connect for an RBI double. Two batters later, catcher Jackson Natili would connect for a two-run single to put the exclamation point in a six-run inning, give the Mohawks a lead of 7-0.
Natili’s Two-Run Single. Timothy Charvat, 2024
After walking the next hitter, manager Doug Delett would remove Collins from the game for
Kris Giangreco. He would get first baseman Cade Ladehoff to pop out to stop the bleeding.
Blue Sox Response
It wasn’t until the bottom of the fourth where the Blue Sox would attempt to respond. Manny Santos would replace Griffin, and the Blue Sox would work another walk, and get their first hit of the game thanks to third baseman Omar Carreras.
With runners on first and third and one out, Santos threw a wild pitch allowing the Sox to get on the board. After striking out Cavazzoni, Hartman would connect for an RBI single to cut the deficit further, down 7-2.
Hartman’s RBI Single. Timothy Charvat, 2024
“The ball comes off his bat,” Delett would comment on Hartman after the game. “He’s got a swing that the ball comes off his bat, and he fights.”
In the next inning, Mohawks manager Kevin Griffin would remove Santos from the game in favor of Peter Aikens, and he would also run into trouble. With the bases loaded and one man out, center fielder Mike Benedetto would fly to O’Brien, who would make an incredible throw to get the catcher Sean Marlow out at home, ending the threat and the Sox momentum.
The Rest of the Game
Throughout the rest of the game, pitching would hold both to only one run. Giangreco
would pitch two and a third inning of shut out baseball, allowing one walk and striking out two.
“He’s a bulldog,” Delett would comment after the game. “He’s not afraid.”
In the top of the seventh, Nick Hios would replace Giangreco, and would get into trouble. With runners on the corners and one out, O’Brian would hit a ground ball that Cavazzoni would boot, allowing a run to score, increasing the Mohawks lead 8-2.
Unfortunately for the Blue Sox, Brenden Kline would replace Aikens in the bottom of the sixth inning, and pitch four run innings of three hit ball, only allowing one run, which came with two outs in the ninth. With a runner on second base, Sox shortstop Johnny Brucato would connect for a RBI double, cutting the Mohawks lead to 8-3.
Two pitches later, Kline would get left fielder Todd Abraham to pop out to Rispoli to end the game.
Manager’s Quote of the Day
This loss marks the fourth in the last five games, but Delett is confident that the team will turn things around.
“We’ve just gotta get up tomorrow morning and go to work again,” he said.
What’s Next
The Blue Sox will be traveling to Albany on Monday, June 17 as they face off against the Doubledays. The first pitch is at 4:30.
Comments