Muckdogs Up & Down, battle to reach .500 tonight
July 17, 2003 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Batavia Muckdogs News Release
The Batavia Muckdogs rolled into the month of July after an 8-6 win over Jamestown. The month did not start off on a good start as the Muckdogs were romped by Jamestown 12-4. That was the start of the Jean Machi loosing streak for the Muckdogs. Machi threw 1.1 innings that night allowing 6 runs on 4 hits and only striking out one. After splitting the first 4 games of the 5 game home and home series the Muckdogs took the 5th game at Dwyer Stadium, 9-1. That was the last start for Darin Naatjes before he would be placed on the DL with a shoulder aliment.
Naatjes picked up his first win of the season for the Muckdogs, pitching 5 innings and allowed2 hits while striking out 5. In the win every Muckdog recorded a hit except for struggling third baseman Zach Norman. Omar Bramasco had 2 hits in that game, which was the start of his 7 game hitting streak.
After taking 3 of 5 from Jamestown the Muckdogs then faced off against the hottest team in the NY-Penn League, Auburn. The Pinckney Division leaders took 2 straight from the Muckdogs in a 2 game home and home series. The first victory came on the 3rd of July, when Auburn defeated Batavia 4-1. Julio De La Cruz picked up the loss for the Muckdogs in that contest throwing only 3.2 innings allowing 6 hits and 3 runs. The next night at Dwyer Stadium with fireworks after the game, the Double Days started the fireworks early defeating Batavia 2-0. Joe Diefenderfer got the start and loss for Batavia, dropping his record to 2-3.
The Muckdogs then hopped on a 4 am bus to Lowell, Mass, to take on the NY-Penn League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The Muckdogs lost 2 of 3 to the Spinners, 5-2 and 14-2. The third game the Muckdogs took, 2-1. Vinny DeChristofaro picked up his second win of the season for the Muckdogs in a relief outing and Caleb McConnell picked up his 2nd save. Justin Libey started that game for Batavia, his first start of the season and went 4 innings and allowed only 4 hits. Then it was back home for the Muckdogs to make history, against the Staten Island Yankees.
After the off day Tuesday, the Muckdogs played a wild 21-inning game against Staten Island on Wednesday July 9th and loss, 5-2. Seven of the Muckdogs nine hitters had 8 or more at-bats during the game. Javon Moran went 4-8 in the contest and the Muckdogs only 2 RBIs came off the bat of Jake Blalock who tied the game in the ninth with a solo homerun. McConnell picked up the loss for Batavia, as he was the second-to-last pitcher in the bullpen that the Muckdogs had available to use. He pitched 3 innings and allowed 3 runs all in the top of the 21st for the Muckdogs to fall to 9-13 on the year. Games 2 and 3 were different stories however as the Muckdogs took care of Staten Island, 5-4 and 4-3 in 10 innings. Both victories came off the hands of relief pitchers; Vinny DeChristofaro recorded his third win of the year in the 5-4 Batavia victory. Brad Overton collected his first win in the 10 inning 4-3 win. After that wild series that saw 21- innings (tied for longest in Batavia baseball history) a nasty rainstorm and another extra inning game, the Muckdogs hopped a bus again, this time off to Fishkill, NY to battle the Renegades of Hudson Valley.
In game 1 the Muckdogs fell to Hudson Valley 1-0. Batavia's two hits were delivered by Jake Blalock and J.D. Foust. Jean Machi picked up the loss for Batavia in that contest. Blalock finished 1 for 2 and Foust 1 for 3 in the game. Game 2, the Muckdogs finally scored a run on Bryan Hansen's 2nd homerun of the season. A solo job over the RF field in the top of the 6th inning, but Hudson Valley scored 2 more runs than Batavia did and took game 2, 3-1. Justin Libey took the loss for Batavia, allowing 6 hits and 3 runs in 4 innings pitched. Game 3 was a dramatic finale to the series as the Muckdogs avoided the sweep with a 5-3 victory. Going into the top of the 8th, trailing 3-1, Jake Blalock walked on a controversial 3-2 pitch to load the bases for Marc Tugwell. Tugwell was 0 for 3 going into the at-bat, but that did not matter as Tugwell hit a grand slam over the leftfield fence to secure the Muckdogs 5-3 win.
After taking the final game of the 3 game set vs. Hudson Valley the Muckdogs have taken 2 straight from Mahoning Valley, 11-4 and 5-3. The Muckdogs after taking the first 2 games of the series have moved within a game of 2nd place in the Pinckney Division. Joe Diefenderfer picked up his third win of the season, going 5 innings and allowing only 3 runs. The game was called after 8 innings due to rain. The second game Kyle Parcus picked up his first win of the season, pitching 5 innings and allowing 1 run on 4 hits. Joe Brunink and Bryan Hansen each collected 2 RBIs; Hansen has compiled 8 RBIs against Mahoning Valley in the two games of series including hitting 1 homerun.
Who's Hot
Javon Moran- Coming into the 16th of July, Moran is hitting .324 with 4 RBIs. Moran is second in the NY-Penn League in stolen bases with 12. In his first two games with the Muckdogs, Moran hit 7 times in his first 10 at-bats. Moran is also 4th on the team in total hits with 22, in 16 games.
Darin Naatjes- Before going on the DL this past week, Naatjes was one of the top 10 starting pitchers in the league. Naatjes has a 1-1 record, with a 1.35 ERA. He has pitched 20 innings this season and allowed only 5 runs on 12 hits. Opponents are hitting only .169 against Darin who fell out of the top 10 in ERA due to his stint on the DL.
Who's Not
Henry Brito- Going into the 16th, he was hitting only .111 in 13 games. Brito has 1 RBI in 45 at-bats, while piling up 12 strikeouts. Brito ranks last on the team in on-base percentage, slugging and average.
Jean Machi- After starting the year allowing only 1 hit and no runs through 9 inning of work, Machi has been cooler than the Arctic in the Wintertime. Machi has lost his last 3 starts moving his record to 1-3 this season. In 19.1 innings Machi has let up 15 hits and 12 runs. He has compiled a season ERA of 5.59, but looking on the bright side for Machi, opponents are hitting .224 against him.
Alumni Update.....Lee Gwaltney
Lee Gwaltney was a member of the 2002 Batavia Muckdogs after being drafted by the Phillies in the 6th round of the June 2002 draft. Lee only made 7 starts for the Muckdogs last year, compiling a record of 0-2 with a 3.60 ERA and 18 K's.
This season in Lakewood is a different story for the right-hander out of Louisiana Tech. Gwaltney is 4-5 with a 3.62 ERA in 13 starts for the Lakewood BlueClaws. Lee has thrown 64.2 innings and has allowed 32 runs on 59 hits, he has also struck out 42 batters this season. The biggest problem for Gwaltney this season has been his control on the hill; he has hit 5 batters this season and also thrown 10 wild pitches.
Gwaltney has shown in Batavia and now currently in Lakewood the stuff that made him a 6th round draft selection. Lee has been injury prone in his first two seasons of professional baseball, just getting removed from the DL by the BlueClaws. Even with the injuries, Lee was ranked as having the Number one pitch according to Baseball America in the Phillies organization, claiming his splitter was already at a Major League level.
Muckdogs Birthdays
July 26: Henry Brito, 23
July 27: Darin Naatjes, 23
Fan Spotlight: There's Something About Mary
When looking at the crowd in Dwyer Stadium, you will see fans young and old, fans that are there for their first time and fans that have been there since 1939. In the grandstand down the third baseline you will see a lovely lady that has been there for the past 6 years, Mary Haman.
"I have been coming to the games for 5 to 6 years," Mary said. "Time really flies when you are here." That is 180 games that Mary has attended over the past 5 years, but why would a lady who has worked for 50 years come to see baseball?
"Well its better than sitting on the porch," Mary said. "Plus its entertaining to watch the kids out there playing and I can come and socialize with people, that I could not do from my porch."
"I really enjoy the game," Mary said. "You get to see young kids who are starting their careers right after college and if they do not make, they still have a place in life." Well Mary's life has been fulfilling, as she was married young, has worked for 50 years, has 5 kids and bowled for 40 years. Oh, Mary also plays bingo during the week.
The Muckdogs are close too the .500 mark coming into mid-July and have been playing well over the past 2 weeks. "They are coming along better," Mary said of the 2003 Batavia Muckdogs. "It takes a while to get use to one another. When they do this team could really turn it around."
Mary Haman is a regular at Dwyer Stadium in the first row of the second section in the grandstand on the third baseline. Her smile is genuine and she will always say hello. This is another special fan that the Batavia Muckdogs are lucky to have.
Dates to Remember
July 24: UMMC Night. THE PHILLIE PHANATIC RETURNS TO DWYER!
July 25: Hillside Children's Center Night. Mini Bat Giveaway.
July 26: Genesee Country Village & Museum "Turn Back the Clock" Night. Come watch a Vintage Base Ball demonstration from 6:00 to 6:30. We're also turning back the clock on concession prices. $1 12 oz. Bud, Bud Light & Amber Boch, $1 16 oz. Pepsi & 75¢ hot dogs!!
August 3: Bark in the Park returns!
For the complete schedule, go online to the Muckdogs web site.
...Another Baby to the Muckdogs family
Congratulations to Muckdogs DH/1B Joe Brunink and his wife Heather who are expecting their first baby. Heather is due in late November. From all of us here with the Muckdogs we wish the Brunink family all the best in their new expansion of the family.
New York-Penn League Stories from July 17, 2003
- Martinez Does It Again, 12th Inning Hit Lifts 'Gades over Aberdeen 3-2 - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Yankees, Cyclones Brawl in 5-2 Brooklyn Win in Staten Island - Staten Island Yankees
- Cards' Comeback Falls Short - New Jersey Cardinals
- ValleyCats Nip Expos Late, 2-1 - Vermont Lake Monsters
- Actor Matthew Modine Joins the IronBirds - Aberdeen IronBirds
- Doubledays Win with Wild Eighth - Auburn Doubledays
- Muckdogs Up & Down, battle to reach .500 tonight - Batavia Muckdogs
- Brooklyn Cyclones Host Book Fair - Brooklyn Cyclones
- Jammers Homestand Preview - Jamestown Jammers
- Hansen, 'Dogs Roll On - Batavia Muckdogs
- 'Gades Swept in Doubleheader; Lost Both Ends to Ironbirds 6-5 - Hudson Valley Renegades
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