Behind seven strong innings from starter Zach Russell, the first-place Batavia Muckdogs beat State College at Dwyer today, 6-4.
The Muckdogs, now 40-27, are a game and a half ahead of Jamestown in the Pinckney Division.
Russell gave up only two runs (one earned) and scattered 8 hits, to improve his record to 2-3 and lower his ERA to 2.72.
Third baseman Jon Rodriguez (pictured above scoring the first run of the game) sparked the offense, going 3-4, scoring twice and smacking two doubles. He had one RBI.
Joey Bergman, playing second base today, had only one hit in his three ABs, but it was a big one. Bergman drove in three runs in the sixth inning to give Batavia a 4-0 lead.
Catcher Audey Perez continued his hot hitting, going 2-4 and scoring a run. Nick Longmire also had a hit and a run scored. DH Patrick Biserta had two hits and an RBI.
Anthony Ferrara pitched two innings, giving up five hits and two runs, to pick up his first save of the season.
The Muckdogs have two more games at Dwyer against State College (32-36), followed by a game in Jamestown on Wednesday, then a home game against Jamestown on Thursday. On Friday, Batavia is at Dwyer for a game against Auburn.
There are only five more home dates left in the regular season.
More pictures after the jump:
Audey Perez
Jon Rodriguez slides safely into second. It was an odd play. The throw beat Rodriquez by at least a second, but the second baseman was a good five or six feet of the bag and couldn't get back to the base in time, even though Rodriguez started his slide too soon and got to the bag rather slowly.
Zach Russell.
Without knot holes in outfield walls, how is a kid supposed to sneek a peak at a professional baseball game? How about stand on his bike seat and handle bars and watch over the right field wall?
Zach Russell on the mound.
