Tigers "Squeeze" out Win Over Yankees

August 18, 2011 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Norwich Sea Unicorns News Release

NORWICH, CT - Bottom of the 9th , bases loaded, tie game. The exact scenario every child dreams up in his backyard baseball game. However, the manner in which the Connecticut Tigers defeated the Staten Island Yankees last night at Dodd Stadium was far from Robin Ventura or Joe Carter-like.

After seeing his second baseman Javier Azcona swing through a first pitch heater from the Yankees' closer Branden Pinder, Tigers manager Andrew Graham put the squeeze play on. The gamble paid off for Connecticut as speedster P.J. Polk was able to beat the All Star reliever's hurried toss home on Azcona's sacrifice bunt, giving the Tigers a 1-0 victory.

The low scoring affair saw great pitching performances for both teams. For Staten Island, Wilton Rodriguez went a strong six innings. The Dominican righty surrendered only two hits and fanned five.

Connecticut starter Wilsen Palacios hurled a complete game shutout. The right hander from Miranda, VZ gave up only three hits and struck out six. Palacios needed only 88 pitches to earn the victory.

Aaron Westlake led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk, affording Graham the opportunity to go to his bench and have Polk pinch run. Dean Green followed with a frozen rope to right field giving the Tigers an excellent scoring chance. Yankees' third baseman Tyler Austin mishandled Jeff Holm's sacrifice bunt to load the bases and set the stage for Azcona.

The Tigers and Yankees will be back in action for the series finale tomorrow night at Dodd Stadium. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM. Fireworks presented by Lawrence & Memorial Hospital and the American Red Cross, and a comedian, sponsored by Comix at Foxwoods, will follow the contest.

New York-Penn League Stories from August 18, 2011

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• Cyclones Topple Jammers, 5-2 - Jamestown Jammers
• Tigers "Squeeze" out Win Over Yankees - Norwich Sea Unicorns
• Lake Monsters Rally For 7-6 Win Over Mahoning Valley - Vermont Lake Monsters
• Spikes Drop 6-3 Decision to Renegades Despite Fuselier's Perfect Night - State College Spikes
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• State College Spikes Game Notes - August 18 at Hudson Valley - State College Spikes
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