Red-Hot Yanks Blank Wizards

Published on August 31, 2003 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Southwest Michigan Devil Rays News Release


FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Eric Verbryke cracked a solo home run to lead off the second inning — and that was all the scoring as the Battle Creek Yankees blanked the Fort Wayne Wizards 1-0 on a wet and chilly Sunday night in a Midwest League baseball game at Memorial Stadium. The teams end their eight-game series — and the regular season — with a Monday afternoon game. They will open the playoffs against each other Wednesday night at Battle Creek.

Battle Creek starter Jon Skaggs (4-3) went 6.2 scoreless innings to pick up the win. He allowed just two hits, and is 3-0 with two no-decisions in his last five starts. Ben Julianel pitched out of a two-out jam in the seventh and worked the eighth — striking out all four men he faced. Matt Brumit pitched the ninth for his 23rd save — he posted 22 saves for the Staten Island Yankees last season.

It was a franchise-record 12th shutout victory for the Yankees, who are 25-17 in one-run games this season.

A crowd of 7,460 was on hand for the game — which featured a Jake Peavy Bobble Head Doll giveaway, "entertainment" by in-game "performer" Myron Noodleman and postgame fireworks. It was the second-largest home crowd in the 11-year history of the Fort Wayne Wizards.

The Yankees collected eight hits. Jon Mark-Sprowl rapped three singles to boost his average to .402 since July 30 when he joined the team as part of a major-league trade deal. Verbryke and Jayson Drobiak added two hits each — Verbryke's homer was his ninth of the season. The Yankees hit into four double plays, three of which ended innings.

Fort Wayne won six of eight first-half meetings between the two teams. Battle Creek has won five of the seven second-half meetings.

Battle Creek has won 17 of its last 20 games — an .850 winning percentage. The Yankees are now 73-64 overall — playing .681 ball since July 11 — and 40-29 in the second half. Battle Creek has locked up second place — and the wild-card playoff spot — in the Eastern Division second-half standings.

Right-hander Josh Neitz will start for the Yankees in the regular-season finale on Monday afternoon. Neitz was the winning pitcher in the season opener at West Michigan on April 3.

BATTLE CREEK YANKEES at FORT WAYNE WIZARDS Monday — RHP Josh Neitz (2-1, 7.94) vs. TBA
Regular season ends; playoffs begin Wednesday
MWL PLAYOFFS: EASTERN DIVISION FIRST ROUND (BEST-OF-3)
Wednesday — Fort Wayne at Battle Creek, 6 p.m.
Thursday — Battle Creek at Fort Wayne, 7 p.m. EDT (6 p.m. FW time)
Friday — Battle Creek at Fort Wayne, 7 p.m. EDT (6 p.m. FW time), if necessary

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Midwest League Stories from August 31, 2003


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