By Joseph Manganiello
SYRACUSE, NY – The Syracuse cross-town rivalry continues tonight as the Junior Chiefs play host to the Salt Cats in Alliance Bank Stadium.
The Junior Chiefs (17-4, 1st in East Division) have won 16 of their last 18 games and sit seven games ahead of the second place Utica Brewers in the loss-column. The team won 12 straight games between June 9 and June 29, and have not lost at home this season.
The Salt Cats (9-17, T-5th in East Division) won seven of ten games between June 22 and July 2, but are currently on a three-game losing streak which includes a heart breaking loss against the Junior Chiefs on Friday.
On Friday, the Salt Cats scored three runs in the top of the first and second inning, and held a 6-2 lead entering the third inning. In the bottom of the third, the Junior Chiefs offense awoke for four runs on five hits, which included Zach Lauricella’s team-leading, fifth home run of the season.
In total, the Junior Chiefs scored 10 runs on 11 hits, all while shutting out the Salt Cat lineup in the final seven innings. Junior Chief relief pitcher JD Tyler threw five shutout innings while only allowing four hits. Closer Kevin Carroll entered in the ninth inning, striking out two batters to finish the game.
The 10-6 victory moved the Junior Chief’s season record against the Salt Cats to 2-0, making tonight just the third meeting between the two teams this season. Tonight’s probable starting pitchers are Robert Frank and Corey Mingin.
Frank will be making his second start of the season for the Junior Chiefs in just his fourth appearance. In his first start, Frank shutout Sherrill at Gilette Road field over six innings, striking out eight batters while only giving up two hits. Just hours after snapping their 12-game winning streak to Geneva, the Junior Chiefs, led by Frank’s impressive start, would roll for a 12-0 victory over the Silversmiths.
In two relief appearances this season, Frank pitched 3.2 innings and gave up just two hits. He is 2-0 on the season with a 1.86 ERA. He is currently striking out 12 batters per nine innings, among the best marks in the league.
Mingin is making his ninth appearance of the season, but just his third start. In six appearances between June 3 and June 18, Mingin never exceeded 1.2 innings thrown. In two starts since June 23, Mingin averages 6.0 innings, 4 hits allowed and an ERA of 1.66 per start, which would put him in discussion for best starter in the NYCBL over the last two weeks. Minging is 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA for the season.
The Junior Chief offense has scored over 20 runs twice in the last four games, including a 29-9 victory against the Adirondack Trailblazers on Thursday. The first place team has scored at least seven runs in all but four games this season.
The Junior Chiefs are 3-0 at Alliance Bank stadium this season. First pitch from Alliance Bank Stadium is at 7 p.m. tonight with tickets costing just five dollars.
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