By Justin Lada
SYRACUSE — Despite a pair of ninth inning home runs, the Syracuse Salt Cats dropped their sixth straight game in a row, falling to 1-6 and losing to the Utica Brewers 9-8 on Monday at Le Moyne College.
The Monday meeting was the fourth time already this season that these two clubs did battle, as the Brewers downed the ‘Cats 4-3 on Sunday.
Monday’s game started off more of the same with the Brewers taking an early lead, getting a leadoff doule from Eros Modina and later scored on a single by Zachary Lorraine.
The Salt Cats answered right back with a pair of runs just like Sunday. Eddie Charles ripped a triple off the wall in right center field, and later scored thanks to what started out as a suicide squeeze from Salt Cats second basemen, Bud Morton. The speedy infielder from Moorhead State University was able to beat the bunt out and later stole second.
Dan Fiorito struck out swinging in the next at bat, but Brewers starting pitcher, Tim Murdick’s strike three ended up being a wild pitch, allowing Morton to score the second run of the inning.
After being shut down in the next two innings by Salt Cats starter, Mike La Londe, the Brewers got things going offensively again in the fourth inning.
With no one out La Londe (0-1) would walk Brewers third basement, Blaine Tanner with Lorraine already aboard with a leadoff double, both would score on a Brian Pruett triple to right, making is 3-2 Utica.
La Londe’s day ended after the fifth when the Brewers added a run when left fielder, Steven Chagolla reached on an error by Salt Cats shortstop, Dan Fiorito and later scored on a sac fly by Modena.
In his five innings pitched, La Londe threw 80 pitches, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits, walking three and striking out a pair of Brewers, taking the loss.
The Salt Cats had opportunities in every inning, leaving 12 runners aboard in the game. While they left many runners stranded in scoring position, they gave the Brewers a few extra outs, as the Brewer seventh inning looked reminiscent of the nightmare inning the Salt Cats had against Geneva on Saturday.
The Brewers sent nine men to the plate, four of whom crossed it on just four hits. Two Salt Cats errors in the inning put Utica in control. Centerfielder, Kenny Durling led off with an opposite field triple to right and later scored on an error by Salt Cats third basemen, Jake Cintolo.
Jesse Pintado, who reached on that error later scoring thanks to a Modena sac fly, that looked like a home run, but Salt Cats left fielder, Corbin Gapski got to the wall just in time to stick his glove over the seven foot high fence to bring back what would have been a two run homer.
While the long fly out by Modena plated just Pintado, the Brewers tacked on a few more. Corey Mingin in relief of Roberto Morales, who pitched a perfect inning of relief in the sixth, was tagged with the seven run Brewer seventh inning with just one of them being earned however.
Mingin got a pair of outs in the seventh before John Mildner came in to stop the bleeding, getting Pruett to ground out with two on, after four had crossed home.
Murdick (1-0) allowed just the two Salt Cat runs in his six innings of work. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out six.
Syracuse was able to rock the Brewers bullpen a little. Dylan Reid relieved Murdick, allowing a single to Morton and he later scored on a pinch hit, RBI single by Salt Cats catcher Kevin Bailey. Syracuse third basemen, Cintolo reached on an error by Pintado but were stranded, as the Salt Cats left the bases loaded.
Jordan Sechler threw a perfect eighth inning for the Brewers but Ryan Donovan nearly had the Salt Cats thinking about a major comeback.
Fiorito clobbered his third home run of the season in the ninth inning off of Donovan, a two run shot with no outs, making it 9-5.
After walking Cintolo and allowing Mike Mascari reach on a single, Brewers manager Ted Stenberg brought in his closer, Kurtis Sargent , who struck out Ethan Braddock.
Andrew Mederios, the Salt Cats first basemen, who came on as a defensive replacement in the seventh blasted a three-run homer to right center, making it 9-8. Sargent came back to strike out Gapski to end the Syracuse rally.
Bo Watson allowed a ninth inning RBI single to Daniel De La Calle, who came on as a defensive replacement for Lorraine in the eighth inning, which proved to be the winning run.
The Salt Cats will have two off days and then have an exhibition against the Watertown Wizards on Thursday in Watertown at 11am. Maso Cotton will start for the Salt Cats in that game.
The team will return home Monday June 18th, hosting the Geneva Red Wings and Rockwell Park on the campus of Le Moyne College at 5pm.
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