By Justin Lada
UTICA, N.Y. — The Syracuse Salt Cats got their first win of the year on opening night of the season at Donovan Stadium. Their second visit to play the Brewers in Utica wasn’t as kind. No matter which pitcher the Salt Cats threw at Utica, the Brewers had their way in a 15-5 win.
Zach Sutherland retired the first two batters of his outing on just six pitches. The Brewers tagged him for a pair of runs in the first along with four more in the third. The only inning where the Brewers went in order was the third.
Brian Pruett had an RBI single in the first and a bases clearing double in the third inning that made it 6-2 Brewers, chasing Sutherland from the game.
The lefty from North Syracuse (University of Pikeville) went two-plus innings, facing 16 batters. He allowed seven runs on eight hits. He walked one and didn’t strike out any Brewers.
Mike La Londe (Hiram College) made his first relief appearance of the season going three innings, while allowing three runs, including his first home run allowed of the season, a solo shot to Pruett in the fifth, one of Pruett’s (two RBIs) of the night.
Alex Pachella (Hamilton College) pitched to four batters, recording one out. In all the righty was charged with three runs on a hit and two walks.
Bo Watson (St. Bonaventure) relieved Pachella in the sixth inning, walking a batter and allowing an unearned run to cross via a passed ball. All nine Brewers batted in the sixth, the second time Utica did that in the game, plating five runs both times.
The Salt Cats did briefly tie the game. Connor Thompson (Mansfield University) scored on a passed ball and an RBI single by Eddie Charles (Oswego State) plated Andrew Mederios to knot the game at 2-2.
Brewers’ starter Jordan Sechler settled in nicely, going six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits, walked four and struck out five Salt Cats.
The Salt Cats did plate two runs in the seventh, a two run double again by Charles with one out. Charles would be thrown out at third after a wild throw home trying to retire Jimmy Napolitano (Rutgers-Newark University) and Charles tried to move to third.
Bud Morton (Moorhead State University) and Kevin Bailey (Alvernia University) both walked with one out in the first, but the Salt Cats couldn’t capitalize.
Kelly Wright (Presbyterian College) made his first appearance since June 5th against Sherrill. He pitched the eighth inning, allowing a run on two walk, a hit and struck out one.
Stephen Dezzi would tack on the run charged to Wright, on an RBI single in that eighth inning. Dezzi went 4-6 with three hits and three runs scored. He doubled in the sixth off of La Londe and later scored in that five run inning..
Dylan Reid and Kurtis Sargent worked the final three innings, allowing two runs on five hits to close the game out.
The Salt Cats fall to 2-11 on the year and have an off day on Thursday. They will take on the Sherrill Silversmiths on Friday at 5pm at Rockwell Park on the campus of Le Moyne College.
Sean Williams (1-0 4.80) (Oklahoma State-Panhandle) will make his fourth start of the year for the Salt Cats.
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