By Justin Lada
BOONVILLE, N.Y. – In its first season of operation Robert S. Smith Sports Complex has seen some home run derby type contests. Sunday was no different, as the Salt Cats mounted a big comeback but ultimately fell to the Adirondack Trail Blazers in New York Collegiate Baseball League action. The loss was the ninth straight for the Salt Cats.
The Salt Cats have had a hard time keeping themselves out of the big inning, and it cropped up again in the fifth frame, Sunday. The Trail Blazers sent 13 batters to the plate in the home half, crossing nine runs. The first 10 batters all reached base before an out was recorded, and nine of them scored before the first out.
Three home runs, a two run shot by Eric Baker, a grand slam by Bobby McLaughlin and a solo home run by Travis Moe were the big blows in the fifth, putting the Salt Cats down 10-0. The first 4 ½ innings took about 40 minutes, the bottom of the fifth inning took 42 minutes.
Salt Cats starter, Sean Williams was reasonably efficient through his first four innings of work. After throwing three shutout innings an RBI single by Chase Matheson in the fourth made it 1-0 Adirondack.
That was before the fifth inning blow-up occurred. The Salt Cats relief corps that followed Williams couldn’t throw dirt on the fire.
Sean Gavin made his first official appearance of the season (pitched a scoreless inning in an exhibition against Watertown) and didn’t record an out. He pitched to four batters, allowing a grand slam (only the hitter was charged to his line) and allowed a total of three runs.
Matt Larangera put the fire at least at bay, retiring the first three batters he saw in the inning, recording all three outs in the fifth despite being the third pitcher to work in the inning.
Meanwhile after finding themselves down 10-0, the Salt Cats broke out some new lumber in the woods of Boonville.
Mike Mascari’s (SUNY Oswego) RBI single capped off a three-run sixth inning for the Salt Cats and set up big things for the seventh inning.
Nick Carlson (Rochester) and Mascari got after it in the inning. The Salt Cats sent 12 batters to the plate with the first nine of them scoring. Carlson and Mascari hit a pair of two-run bombs, with Mascari’s bringing the Salt Cats all the way back, tying the game at 10. Connor Thompson later scored on a groundout by Andrew Mederios (Westfield State) giving the Salt Cats an 11-10 lead.
The bullpen wasn’t able to hold on though as Larangera found himself in trouble when the Trail Blazers batted in their half of the seventh. He walked leadoff man Gooch Greer and later gave up an RBI single to Matt Robinson. Roberto Morales (0-1) came in, trying to keep it at a tie game but wound up allowing an RBI double to Eric Baker and then a two run home run to Colton Campbell, settling the score at 14-11.
Alex Pachella was the Salt Cats best reliever in his third outing of the year. He went one scoreless inning, yielding just a hit and a walk.
The Salt Cats are back in action on Monday at home, hosting the Geneva Red Wings at 5pm from Rockwell Park on the campus of Le Moyne College.
Joe Riley, guaranteeing a Salt Cats victory, will make his second start of the season.
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