Yankees to Face Lugnuts

Published on September 4, 2003 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Southwest Michigan Devil Rays News Release


FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Battle Creek right-hander Ray Clark tamed the Fort Wayne Wizards and the Yankees posted a 5-0 victory Thursday night to win the Midwest League Eastern Division first-round series. The Yankees swept the best-of-three series by taking the first two games, and will meet Lansing for the Eastern Division championship. That second-round series will start Saturday night at Oldsmobile Park in Lansing.

Clark, who posted an 8-7 record during the regular season, pitched six scoreless innings. He scattered five hits and struck out five.

Battle Creek pounded out 11 hits, including the 31st home run of the season by Jayson Drobiak. His 22nd homer on the road led off the sixth inning and gave the Yankees a 3-0 lead.

The playoff sweep continued a dramatic turnaround by the Yankees. After losing on July 11, they were 41-49 with a .242 team batting average. As late as July 23, they were in last place in the Eastern Division second-half standings. The Yankees closed the regular season with a 32-15 record - including 17-3 in the final 20 games - and finished with a .261 team batting average.

With the playoff victories, Battle Creek is now 19-3 since Aug. 9 - and went 7-2 against the Wizards in the last nine games. The last time the Yankees played a team other than Fort Wayne was Aug. 24 against Quad City. That will change Saturday night when they face first-half runner-up Lansing. In the regular season, Battle Creek had a 6-5 edge in games with Lansing. Their last meeting was July 6.

The Yankees - who rallied to win the playoff opener 3-2 at home - were in a scoreless battle before taking a 1-0 lead in the fourth. With one out, Drobiak was hit by a pitch, but erased when Rudy Guillen reached on a fielder's choice. Guillen took second on a walk to Bronson Sardinha and scored on a single by Sandy Madera.

Battle Creek made it 2-0 in the fifth on back-to-back one-out singles by Joaquin Arias and Gabe Lopez. Arias scored on a wild pitch.

Drobiak crushed a home run to start the sixth. Guillen and Sardinha followed with singles. After a fly out, Guillen scored when the Wizards attempted an inning-ending double play - but didn't get either runner. Matt Carson singled to load the bases, but a fly out and a strikeout ended the inning with Battle Creek leading 4-0.

The Yankees added a run in the seventh for a 5-0 lead on a lead-off single by Jon-Mark Sprowl, a fielder's choice and a two-out RBI double by Sardinha.

After Fort Wayne led off the bottom of the seventh with two singles against Clark, reliever Thad Markray came in and retired three straight to end the threat. The Wizards loaded the bases in the eighth against Ben Julianel, but a strikeout ended the inning. Matt Brumit - who collected 23 saves in the regular season ‹ pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning in a non-save situation.

EASTERN DIVISION FIRST ROUND (BEST-OF-3) Wednesday Battle Creek 3, Fort Wayne 2 Thursday Battle Creek 5, Fort Wayne 0 EASTERN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (BEST-OF-3) Saturday Battle Creek at Lansing Sunday Lansing at Battle Creek, 6 p.m. Monday Lansing at Battle Creek, 6 p.m. (if necessary)

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Midwest League Stories from September 4, 2003


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