By DONOVAN MOFFAT
BATAVIA, N.Y. – The Batavia Muckdogs (24-18) slid into a four-game losing streak after being shut out at home for the second time this season falling 7-0 to divisional rival the Williamsport Crosscutters (14-27) in front of 2,779 fans at Dwyer Stadium.
The Muckdogs recorded two hits in the first inning and put pressure on early but were unable to get the timely hit.
“We’re just in a patch here where we can’t get a key hit and we can’t make a pitch to shut them down in an inning,” Muckdogs manager Tom Lawless said about the team’s slump. “We’ve had a pretty good run for the last two and a half weeks but we’re we just a little bit off.”
Leadoff hitter and starting left fielder J.D. Orr, was the bright spot for the Muckdogs on the evening as he paced the team with two hits, running his hit streak to nine games.
“I’m just having good at-bats trying to stay in my approach and hit the ball the other way,” Orr said about his mentality at the plate. “I just try to stay calm and wait for my pitch and when I get it, don’t miss it.”
Orr beat out two infield singles and used his speed on the base paths to keep his hit streak alive.
“I really didn’t see the ball well tonight but when you put the ball in play, good things can happen and I was just trying to make contact.”
Orr, in his last 10 games, has a batting average of .412 with 14 hits and has increased his season average to .375. He currently leads the team in batting average and is tied for first in the New York-Penn League.
Williamsport scored two runs in the second inning and did not look back. The Crosscutters crossed home in five different innings and mustered out 12 hits that included a solo shot from Kendall Simmons.
Williamsport strikes first in the top of the second. @BataviaMuckdogs up to bat down 2-0. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/zVV5OVKj5Z
— Donnie Moffat (@donniemoffat) July 27, 2019
The Muckdogs threatened with runners on the corners and two outs in the sixth inning but were unable to capitalize.
Through 6 innings, Williamsport is up 4-0. @BataviaMuckdogs strand runners at corners and end the inning empty-handed. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/sLBQkKN66F
— Donnie Moffat (@donniemoffat) July 28, 2019
Starting pitcher Easton Lucas (0-1) suffered his first loss of the season throwing 3.0 innings and gave up three runs on four hits and had four strikeouts. Dakota Bennett came on in relief for the Muckdogs.
@BataviaMuckdogs starting pitcher Easton Lucas has 4 strikeouts through three innings. Muckdogs surrender another run and are down 3-0 heading into the bottom half of the third. @PickinSplinters pic.twitter.com/7BEYRJvhCc
— Donnie Moffat (@donniemoffat) July 27, 2019
“We just got to forget about it,” Lawless said about what his team needs to do moving forward into the final game of the series. “Baseball is played one game at a time and when tomorrow comes you play. You don’t worry about the standings or where you are in the standings and you go out and do your best night after night whether you’re an offensive player, pitcher or defensive player.”
Batavia had five hits on the night. Dalvy Rosario, Troy Johnston and Andrew Turner each added a base knock for the Muckdogs.
“We are a tough group of guys and we are going to battle through this,” Orr said about moving on from the losing streak. “This is just a rough patch but we are going to figure it out and be good.”
The Muckdogs finish the series against the Crosscutters Sunday night with first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
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