muckdogs

Press release:

MORGANTOWN, W. VA. -- Nic Ready hit two home runs in a Muckdogs win on Tuesday, and two home runs were not enough on Wednesday for Batavia as they fell to the West Virginia Black Bears, 8-2.

Troy Johnston belted his second home run of the season for Batavia and shortstop Dalvy Rosario hit his first of the season. Both were solo shots. Johnston had two hits; he's a 17th-round pick of the Miami Marlins this year out of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wa.

Eli Villalobos took the loss for Batavia, throwing the first 2.2 innings, giving up three runs and he struck out four.

Brock Love and Joey Steele once again had strong outings in relief for the Muckdogs and both have an ERA of 0.00 on the season.

Love, a 34th-round pick of Miami this year from Alabama, went 1.1 innings of perfect baseball and struck out one.

Steele, a 30th-round pick this year by there Marlins out of the University of San Francisco, tossed the eighth and struck out two without giving up a walk or a run.

Jackson Rose, a 2018 draft pick, threw three innings and struck out six without allowing a walk.

Batavia is now 24-15 and three games up on second place West Virginia (20-17) in the NYPL Pinckney Division. Third place State College (Pa.) also lost, and dropped to 19-20 with Mahoning Valley jumping ahead at 20-19. The Muckdogs are back in a battle with Lowell (23-13) for the best overall record in the league.

Batavia plays Thursday at 6:35 p.m. against West Virginia.

The fun continues at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday when the Muckdogs host Williamsport, it is Flash Back Friday, there will be Crafty Hour as Eli Fish craft beers are $3 for an hour before the game and all fans can get a bag of tennis balls after the game and take the chance on throwing one into a hula hoop to win two round-trip airline tickets courtesy of Allegiant Air. There are other hoops to win other prizes.

On Saturday (also a 7:05 p.m. start), the Muckdogs not only have fireworks after the game, but Tompkins Bank of Castile bought all the general admission seats and are giving them away to fans. There are still a few available at the box office.

Sunday is a 5:05 p.m. start and it's O'Lacy's Irish Day. O'Lacy's has specials and tickets, you can visit the restaurant or follow them on Facebook. It is also free admission for MuckPups and kids can run the bases. Before the game, next to the souvenir stand, it is Autograph Alley as eight players will sign autographs, pose for photos and selfies with fans.

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Submitted photo: Milton Smith II gives a high-five to Troy Johnston (27), who hit his second home run of the season for the Batavia Muckdogs on Wednesday night. Johnston had two hits in the loss for the first-place Muckdogs.

Press release:

Nic Ready is starting to show some of his promised power this season -- with his first home-game home run on Monday, he jumped on a bus after the game to play the West Virginia Black Bears Tuesday night.

He had a chance to stretch his legs, this time rounding the bases again.

With Batavia trailing 1-0 in the third, Ready, the NCAA Home Run Derby champion as a senior at Air Force Academy, blasted a two-out, three-run home run.

As West Virginia (wearing their special Moonshiners uniforms) closed the lead to 5-2, Ready crushed another home run. That was it as Batavia cruised to an 8-3 victory.

For the game, Ready increased his average to .305 by going 3-for-5 and had a RBI double as well as he drove in six runs on the game.

Batavia catcher Andres Stormes also hit a home run, a solo shot as he went 2-for-3 with two runs.

Milton Smith II had a hit and a run and stole his 10th base of the season.

J.D. Orr, who jumped to the top spot in the NYPL average race with a .378 average, went 2-for-3 with two runs and two walks. Putting him on base means a steal, and Orr stole two bases and has 19 on the season.

Dalvy Rosario scored once and stole two bases, giving him nine on the season.

The win was big for Batavia, as the Muckdogs are 24-14 and gained a full game (up 4.0) on second place West Virginia (19-17) in the NYPL Pinckney Division. Third place State College Spikes of Pennsylvania also lost, and dropped to 19-19 with Mahoning Valley. The Muckdogs are back in a battle with Lowell (23-12), Mass., for the best overall record in the league.

On the mound, lefty Andrew Miller won his second straight to improve to 2-3 on the season. he went five strong innings with two strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Bryan Hoeing had his first career hold, going three innings and striking out two without allowing a walk. Josh Simpson, another lefty on manager Tom Lawless' roster, pitched the ninth and struck out the final batter of the game.

For Buffalo Bills fans, Batavia won on Jeff Hostetler Bobble Head Night. The former West Virginia baseball player was featured with a Black Bears No. 15 jersey on his bobblehead. Hostetler led the New York Giants over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV, 20-19 in 1990. The first 1,000 fans received the gift and the former QB was there to sign autographs.

Batavia has two more games in West Virginia, Wednesday and Thursday at 6:35 p.m.

The fun continues at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday when the Muckdogs host Williamsport, it is Flash Back Friday, there will be Crafty Hour as Eli Fish craft beers are $3 for an hour before the game and all fans can get a bag of tennis balls after the game and take the chance on throwing one into a hula hoop to win two round-trip airline tickets courtesy of Allegiant Air. There are other hoops to win other prizes.

On Saturday (also a 7:05 p.m. start), the Muckdogs not only have fireworks after the game, but Tompkins Bank of Castile bought all the general admission seats and are giving them away to fans. There are still a few available at the box office. 

Sunday is a 5:05 p.m. start and it's O'Lacy's Irish Day. O'Lacy's has specials and tickets, you can visit the restaurant or follow them on Facebook. It is also free admission for MuckPups and kids can run the bases. Before the game, next to the souvenir stand, it is Autograph Alley as eight players will sign autographs, pose for photos and selfies with fans. 

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Submitted photo: Nic Ready, with his signature toothpick, is all smiles. He has hit three home runs in two games, had six RBI's Tuesday and Batavia is in first place.

Press release:

As a senior at the Air Force Academy in 2018, Nic Ready won the NCAA Home Run Derby at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., when he hit a record 55 home runs in three rounds for the title.

During his senior season, he hit .341 with 20 home runs.

A 23rd-round draft pick of the Miami Marlins this year, Ready hit his first home run in Batavia (his second on the season) as the Batavia Muckdogs defeated the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 4-1 on Monday.

Batavia (23-14) is in first place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Ready, who is now hitting .293, had a 3-for-4 day with two runs and his home run gave Batavia a 1-0 lead in the seventh.

With the game tied 1-1 in the eighth with two outs, Troy Johnston a 17th-round pick of the Marlins this year, ripped a 2-RBI double off the right-center wall to give Batavia the lead for good.

“I thought it was gone, I did, it was an awesome feeling, you love when you get a ball like that in a situation like that,” Johnston said. "Milton (Smith II) starting it off with a hit (in the eighth), Nic Ready squeaking one through and Andrew Turner got us an insurance run. Hitting is contagious especially with two outs.”

A crowd of 1,139 saw the Muckdogs win on Kids Day.

"The kids were awesome, they were loud, they got after it, I loved it. It was a great atmosphere here in Batavia,” Johnston said.

Batavia has the two top hitters in the NYPL and they both contributed, as J.D. Orr (.368) had a hit and Smith (.352) had a hit and a run. Orr was a 10th-round draft pick this year and Smith went in the 22nd round last year to Miami.

Andrew Turner, a 39th-round pick in 2018, continued his recent hot streak as he is hitting .329 in his last 10 games and .299 on the season. He had two hits including an RBI double.

On the mound, Evan Brabrand continued his dominating season.

Brabrand, a ninth-round pick this year out of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., is now 2-0 with seven saves in nine mound appearances. He has struck out 14 in 9.2 innings and given up one run for a 0.93 ERA. on Monday, he had one strikeout in 1.1 innings, one hit allowed and no runs.

Starter Easton Lucas had a shutout for the three innings he pitched, struck out four and did not walk a batter. Lucas, a lefty, is a 14th-round Marlins draft pick this year out of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., and he has a 1.69 ERA.

Lefty Dakota Bennett went 4.2 innings, struck out two, gave up two hits and no earned runs.

The pitching is phenomenal, I am just glad I’m on the other side,” Johnston said.

Right after the game, the Muckdogs left for West Virginia for three games with the Black Bears. The Muckdogs are home Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. with Williamsport and Sunday at 5:05 p.m.

The game Saturday is sponsored by Tompkins Bank of Castile and free general admission tickets are available at the box office while they last.

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Press release:

Even when the Batavia Muckdogs lose, they find a way to keep the crowd excited to the last out.

The Muckdogs ended a 3-game win streak with a 5-4 loss to Mahoning Valley on Sunday.

The Muckdogs play at home at 11:05 a.m. on Monday as part of Kids Day and a special for fans age 55 and over. Tickets for anyone 55 and older is just $2 and there will be food and drink specials as well.

On Sunday, Mahoning Valley jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the sixth and held off a Batavia rally to win.

Batavia remains in first place in the New York-Penn Pinckney Division with a 22-14 record and Mahoning Valley is 18-18.

J.D. Orr had another strong game going 2-for4 with two runs and is now hitting .369 on the season, jumping just ahead of teammate Milton Smith III (.356) for the top average in the NYPL.

Dalvy Rosario (two runs), Nic Ready and Ronal Reynoso all had hits while Jack Strunc and Andrew Turner had RBI's.

Starting pitcher Edgar Martinez went four innings and struck out three, Jonaiker Villalobos, who took the loss, struck out one in .2 innings.

Jeremy Galindez went 2.1 innings giving up two hits and struck out one.

Edison Suriel lowered his ER to 1.69 throwing two scoreless innings one one-hit ball with four strikeouts to keep the Muckdogs in the game.

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Photos by Jim Burns

Catcher Keegan Smith and pitcher Julio Frias were on the same page as Frias had a no-hitter through five innings on Saturday night in a 7-2 win over Mahoning Valley for the first-place Batavia Muckdogs.

Submitted photo and press release:

Julio Frias looked like he might take the hard-luck loss of the season for the Batavia Muckdogs. The 21-year-old Miami Marlins signing was tossing a no-hitter through five innings Saturday night, but the Muckdogs trailed, 2-0.

With the team trailing, 2-1 and two outs and two strikes, Andrew Turner belted a three-RBI double to give Batavia the lead. The hits kept coming with two outs, and after a seven-run inning, that was all the pitching staff needed.

The Muckdogs improved to 22-12 with a 7-2 win over the Mahoning Valley Scrapper. Batavia is in first place of the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Turner, a 39th-round draft pick of the parent-club Miami Marlins in 2018 out of Long Island University, finished 3-for-4 with a run, but his big hit was the bases-clearing hit to the right-center fence.

"I was just trying to get something to hit, something I could put in play and get it up the middle," Turner said. "We didn't need three runs, we needed one or two, but I was fortunate to get it up the middle and bring the runs in."

Frias improved to 3-1 throwing 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts and gave up just one hit and walked three. He now has a 2.02 ERA.

"With a guy like Frias on the mound, he is going to hold us there for a long time, he is going to keep throwing up zeros," Turner said. "We know it's going to take one inning, we have so many good guys the lineup, if he could just hold us there and we knew he would."

With a righty coming up, Manager Tom Lawless went to the pen with two outs and pitcher Joey Steele came in and got the Muckdogs out of a jam and kept his 0.00 ERA intact.

From there, M.D. Johnson struck out three batters in the seventh and gave up one hit. Brock Love, a 34th round Marlins pick out of the University of Alabama, threw the final two innings and was perfect, striking out three and still has a 0.00 ERA in four innings and three appearances.

At the plate, J.D. Orr stole his 17th base of the season and went 2-for-4 with a RBI and unto up his average to .363 while Ronal Reynoso was 2-for-4 with a RBI double and run. Milton Smith II singled in a run, stole his ninth base of the season and scored.

It was Wilmot Cancer Institute of Batavia's Cancer Survivors Night and the crowd impressed Turner.

"It's unbelievable. It's the whole reason you play. When you are playing for a team like this, it makes coming to the ball park fun every day," Turner said. "We're 40 games in, we've been here since spring training in February and March, we have a winning ball club, and the fans coming out.

"The fans are excited every day and it makes you want to be here and play that much harder for not only all these fans coming out, but also the guys around you. It's been great."

The Muckdogs have two more home games in this series.

Today (July 21) is a 5:05 p.m. start with autograph alley (players signing autographs around 4 p.m. or 4:20 p.m.), kids run the bases and it's a kids' day for the Muckpups.

Monday is a special 11:05 a.m. start with food and ticket specials. It is also summer camp and splash day.

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Press release:

AUBURN -- The Batavia Muckdogs had a long day of travel and baseball Friday, but showed why they are in first place in the Pinckney Division with a 4-3, 401 sweep of the Auburn Doubledays.

Batavia scored three runs in the top of the final inning to stun Auburn in the first game.

With Auburn leading 3-1, Michael Hernandez singled in Andrew Turner when Dalvy Rosario hit a two-RBI double scoring Milton Smith II and Ronal Reynoso.

Roasario hit two doubles in the game and stole a base while J.D. Orr went 2-for-4 with his 16th stolen base of the season.

Turner, Jack Strunc each had a hit while Hernandez, the Muckdogs' catcher, went 2-for-3.

The pitching Eli Villalobos, a righty from Long Beach State and a 14th-round draft pick of the parent Miami Marlins in 2018, went 5.2 innings with three strikeouts and did not get the decision. Jonaiker Villalobos, a lefty from Venezuela, faced two batters, retired one and for the win to go to 1-0 on the season.

Evan Brabrand, a 9th round pick of the Marlins this year, made it a perfect seven on saves as he threw one inning of perfect baseball with two strikeouts to get his seventh win of the season in seven attempts.

In the second game, Jackson Rose, a 35th-round pick of the Marlins in 2018 out of Minnesota, continued his strong season on the mound for manager Tom Lawless.

Rose went six strong innings with five strikeouts and gave up just two hits and did not walk a batter. Josh Simpson, who was taken in the 32nd round this season, had a perfect inning in relief, striking out two for his first save of the season. In five games this season, Simpson, a Columbia grad, has a 0.00 ERA.

Batavia (21-13) scored two in the first and two in the final inning to put the game away.

Hitting was contagious as Reynoso had two hits, a stolen base and a run and Turner had two hits and a run. Catcher Andres Sthormes had two hits.

While Nic Ready blasted a double, Troy Johnston had a RBI single, Brayan Hernandex (run) and Milton Smith II (run) had hits.

The Muckdogs are home Saturday night at 7:05 with fireworks after the game and a Beach Boys theme. Sunday is a 5:05 p.m. start with autograph alley, kids run the bases and it's a kids day for the Muckpups. Monday is a special 11:05 a.m. start with food and ticket specials. It is also summer camp and splash day.

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Dakota Bennett, an 11th-round draft pick of the Miami Marlins, picked up a win last night in an 11-0 win over Auburn for the Batavia Muckdogs.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs have increased the lead in first place in the Pinckney Division to 3.0 over the West Virginia Black Bears, the Pirates affiliate in the New York-Penn League.

Batavia (19-12) hosts the Auburn Doubledays at 7:05 tonight at Dwyer Stadium.

The team, featuring mainly recent draft picks and signings by the parent club, the Miami Marlins, won 11-0 on Wednesday night over Auburn.

Three pitchers combined for a three-hitter, each given up just one hit.

Dakota Miller pitched five innings in relief to pick up the win. Miller, an 11th round draft pick of the Miami Marlins in 2017, improve to 2-1 on the season. He struck out one, gave up a single hit and walked one.

Easton Lucas, a 15th-round draft pick of the Marlins this year, threw the first three innings and struck out two, gave just one hit and no walks or runs. His ERA dropped to 2.35 on the season.

Joey Steele, another 2019 draft pick, kept his ERA at 0.00 as he threw the ninth innings, striking out two.

Muckdogs Manager Tom Lawless gave two of his best hitters the night off, Milton Smith II (hitting a NYPL leading .402) and Sean Reynolds (two home runs, 33 home runs in three years).

However, the offense scored 11 runs led by the electric J.D. Orr, a 10th-round 2019 draft pick out of Wright State in Dayton, Ohio.

Orr is second to Smith II in hitting for the lead league and had a triple and a double to increase his average to .357 while scoring three runs. He also drove in two runs, stole a base and walked.

Shortstop Dalvy Rosario tripled and drove in four runs on the night.

Troy Johnston, a 17th-round draft pick out of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., this year, is now hitting .300 on the season as he went.

Catcher Keegan Fish, a 13th-round pick of the Marlins in 2018, went 2-for-3 wth two runs, Nic Ready belted a RBI double and Brayan Hernandez had a single and stole a base.

On tap tonight: It's Labatt's Blur Thirsty Thursday as all 16-ounce Labatt Blue products are just $2 until the seventh inning.

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Press release:

Edgar Martinez and the Batavia Muckdog bullpen put together another solid outing, but the offense could not get the timely hits needed as their fell, 3-1 to the Vermont Lake Monsters.

Martinez struck out five over five innings and gave up two runs, then recent University of Alabama grad Brock Love, who just joined the Muckdogs, threw his second scoreless inning. Love is a 2019 Miami Marlins draft pick. Edison Suriel, who has a 2.25 ERA ad was signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Marlins, struck out two in one inning and did not allow a hit or run. Geremy Galindez threw one inning and struck out two. The only run he gave up came on a 2-2 wild pitch and the next pitch he struck the batter out to end the inning.

Milton Smith II continued his incredible season going 1-for-3 with a run and two stolen bases and is now hitting .402, which leads the New York-Penn League. Smith was drafted in the 22nd round in 2018 by the Marlins.

Troy Johnston (17th-round draft pick this year) had an RBI single and is now hitting .313 and Sean Reynolds had a hit and is batting .421 on the season. Nick Ready had the other Batavia hit.

Vermont lefty Jhenderson Hurtado struck out 10 in relief, throwing five innings to improve to 3-0 on the season. Vermont's three pitchers combined to strike out 19.

Batavia will have a travel day on Tuesday.

The Muckdogs, who have increased attendance by 29 percent over last year, will return home on Wednesday and Thursday to take on the Auburn Doubledays (Washington Nationals).

Tickets are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

The team is also home on July 20, 21 and 22 against Mahoning Valley (Cleveland Indians).

Photo: Submitted file photo of Edgar Martinez, who threw five innings against Vermont and struckout five hitters.

Milton Smith II had another hit Saturday. He has now hit in 21 of 23 games this season for Batavia.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs have played 19 games in 19 days, and the long road trip from Batavia to Vermont may have caught up with the hitters. The Muckdogs (17-11) fell to the Vermont Lake Monsters, 2-0 Saturday night on a game where both teams combined for five hits, the Muckdogs picking up three of them.

Jackson Rose picked up the hard-luck loss, throwing five innings of two-hit ball, giving up a solo home run to Kevin Richards. The only other hit was an infield single.

Eli Villalobos had one of the best outings of his short professional career, throwing three perfect innings in relief, striking out four. Villalobos, a 2018 14th-round Miami Marlins draft pick out of Long Beach State in California, has started three games but has excelled for Manager Tom Lawless out of the pen. He now has 25 strikeouts in 22 innings and a save.

Sean Reynolds had one of the three hits for the Muckdogs and also walked, putting his average at an even .500 as he has hit in all four games with Batavia since joining the team on July 10 (seven hits).

Milton Smith II, the 21-year-old leadoff hitter for the Muckdogs and had a 12-game hitting streak earlier this season, had another hit and is now hitting .405 this season. Smith II, a 22nd-round pick of the Marlins in 2018, is ahead of Gilberto Jimenez, of Lowell, Mass., who is hitting .376 (Muckdog J.D. Orr was second in average but is just short on enough official at bats to qualify).

How amazing has this season been for Smith II? He now has hit in 21 of 23 games he has played.During his 12-game hit streak, his lone at bat was an extra inning walk-off single to win a game for the Muckdogs.

Dalvy Rosario also had a hit for Batavia.

The Muckdogs are at Vermont Sunday and Monday for 7:05 p.m. starts and after a travel day return home for two games to host the Auburn Doubledays, both at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets to the games on Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18 against the Auburn Doubledays (or home games July 20, 21 and 22 against Mahoning Valley) are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Two Miami Marlins draft picks who are making an impact with the Batavia Muckdogs high-five after a diving catch by Milton Smith II, left, in center field head first toward the fence to end the inning, and Troy Johnston, who belted a home run and doubled Friday before 1,301 fans in Batavia.

Submitted photo and press release:

After taking the first two games of the series against the Boston Red Sox from club Lowell Spinners, the Batavia Muckdogs were in position to take over the best overall record in the New York-Penn League.

However, the Spinners showed why they are in the top spot by scoring two big runs in the ninth inning to hold off the Muckdogs 5-2 Friday night before 1,301 fans at Dwyer Stadium.

Batavia (17-10) is still in first place in the NYPL Pinckney Division and goes on the road for three games against the Vermont Lake Monster, the Oakland A's farm club.

Troy Johnston, a 17th-round draft pick of the parent club Miami Marlins in 2019 out of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wa., went 2-for-3 with a 394-foot solo home run to right field that went 102 MPH off the bat. Johnston also hit a RBI double down the left field line in the first and is now hitting .357 on the season.

Sean Reynolds continued his three-game tear in his return to Batavia by going 2-for-4 with a double to increase his average to .545, as he hit two home runs then followed it up with four hits including the double.

Milton Smith II made one of the best catches of the season in center field, going on a dead sprint to center and diving head-first toward the fence, making a catch to end the fourth inning. Smith II then led off the bottom half of the inning with a single and scored.

Albert Guairamo, Nic Ready and Dalvy Rosario had hits for Batavia.

The pitching staff game up 13 hits but only five runs, as Andrew Miller took the loss, throwing 3.2 innings with three strikeouts. Edison Suriel (two strikeouts) threw 1.1 scoreless innings and Bryan Hoeing in his first appearance in Batavia threw a scoreless inning.

The Muckdogs return home on Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18 against the Auburn Doubledays then back home July 20, 21 and 22 against Mahoning Valley.

Tickets for these games and others are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or be calling 585-483-3647.

Press release:

You never know who will step up for the Batavia Muckdogs during any given game. It's the main reason the team is 17-9, sitting in first place in the Pinckney Division.

Thursday night, it was Jack Strunc's turn, as the shortstop went 3-for-4 with two doubles to lead Batavia to a 5-2 win over the Lowell Spinners.

Lowell is now 17-8 and Friday night's game in Batavia will determine who has the best overall record in the New York-Penn League.

"They have the best record coming in here but I think we show we can play with anyone," Strunc said. "It doesn't matter, we are confident no matter what division or who is at the top, these guys show up every single day, pitching and hitting."

Strunc, who was drafted this year in the 25th round of the draft by the Miami Marlins, scored twice and drove in two runs to increase his average to .333 with the three-hit game.

"I'm trying to see the ball as long as possible, I'm not trying to do too much," Strunc said. "I'm seeing a few more pitches than normal and I think that's helping."

Albert Guaimaro made three outstanding catches in right field including two running grabs near the fence to go with his RBI single at the plate. His defense kept runners from scoring in three innings.

Sean Reynolds, who is hitting .571 in his return to Batavia this week had a double and scored, Brayan Hernandez went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI and Andrew Turner had an RBI single.

Pitching was strong again as Dakota Bennett picks up the win throwing five innings of shutout ball with three strikeouts and Geremy Galindez notched his second save, throwing a scoreless ninth with a strikeout. Easton Lucas started, striking out two in two innings and one of the new Muckdogs, Brock Love, threw one scoreless inning with a strikeout. Love is a 34th-round pick the Marlins from the 2019 draft and played at University of Alabama.

Coming up: Friday is Crafty Hour where the large selection of craft beers are just $3. There will be other specials and events during the 7:05 p.m. game.

Tickets for these games and others are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or by calling 585-483-3647.

Photos by Jim Burns.

Press release:

When the rest of the Miami Marlins prospects were being moved up and down a few weeks ago, Sean Reynolds stayed in Florida to refine his sweet swing and work on little things in his hitting approach.

Boy, are the Batavia Muckdogs glad.

In his first game with the team this season, Reynolds blasted two home runs, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored. The Muckdogs (16-9) downed the Lowell Spinners (17-7), 8-6.

Reynolds, a crowd favorite, is a 6-foot-7, 237-pound first baseman who hits from the left side and throws right-handed. The fourth-round pick of the Marlins in 2016 has crushed 33 home runs in his short minor league career. The 21-year-old hit 17 home runs in Batavia last season.

"I want to be a consistent hitter who can have power," Reynolds said. "It felt good, obviously, two big ones tonight. When it happens, it's always good."

However, Reynolds was pleased with his RBI single in the seventh inning.

"My favorite hit of the three was the two-out, two-strike RBI single," Reynolds said. "It is huge whenever you get a chance to add on late in a game against a good pen like that."

As for being back in Batavia, Reynolds said, "The crowd was excited and I was excited to be back. You never want to get sent down per se, but wherever I am I am going to try to help teams win games … That was fun."

Reynolds then signed autographs for young fans and handed his oversized batting gloves to one lucky Little League player. The boy looked at the gloves with wide eyes and Reynolds joked, "don't worry, you'll grow into them."

Lowell has the best overall record in the New York-Penn League and Batavia has the second-best record, which is good enough for first place in the Pinckney Division.

With the Muckdogs trailing 6-5 following an extended fifth inning rally from their NYPL opponent, the Lowell Spinners, Reynolds came through with a blast for the ages, a two-run home run, which regained the lead for Batavia and proved to be the difference in what eventually turned into an 8-6 win for the home team.

The three-run, go-ahead moon shot, Reynolds’ second four-bagger of the game, followed his go-ahead three-run tater in the bottom of the first inning which came after a two-run first from Lowell. Both of Reynolds’ big flies came with two outs. His second home run came off the bat at 115 MPH.

Left fielder J.D. Orr, a 10th-round Marlins draft pick this year, continued his torrid start to the season, finishing 3-for-4 with four runs scored and a stolen base while shortstop Dalvy Rosario (two runs), second baseman Jack Strung (25th round pick this year) and center fielder Milton Smith II (22nd round pick in 2018) also chipped in multi-hit games. Smith, the leading hitter in the NYPL is hitting .416 with Orr at .404 and chasing him at the second spot.

Picking up the win on the mound for Batavia was right-hander Joey Steele (1-0), who pitched one-and-two-thirds clean innings, allowing two hits and striking out one. Steele, a 30th round pick this year, got out of a jam in the fifth and then went on to hurl a perfect sixth inning.

Starter Edgar Martinez went 4.1 innings and struck out four. Muckdogs’ closer Evan Braband recorded the save, striking out the side in the ninth. Braband, the Marlins’ 2019 9th round draft pick, has allowed just one hit this season while striking out 11 over six and one-third innings pitched. He now has five saves on the season. Josh Simpson, a 32nd-round draft pick this year had his third hold as he threw two scoreless innings and struck out four.

Spinners’ right-handed reliever Miguel Suero (0-1) was hit with the loss, pitching two and one-third inning, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out one.

Batavia began the game trailing 2-0 after Lowell put up two-runs in the top of the first, but Reynolds’ blast in the bottom half of the frame gave the Muckdogs the lead until the fifth inning. The Spinners struck for two runs during both their half of the fourth and their half of the fifth, giving them a 6-5 lead heading to the bottom half of the inning.

Then, Reynolds’ two-run blast during the Muckdogs' half of the fifth proved to be the difference, while Reynolds’ single in the seventh simply served as insurance.

Coming up: Tonight is Thirsty Thursday as all Labatt's products are $2. On Friday is Crafty Hour where the large selection of craft beers are just $3. There will be other specials and events during the week. All games are at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets for these games and others are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or by calling 585-483-3647.

Top photo: FIle photo from 2018. Bottom photo, Reynolds connects for one of his two homers, supplied by the Muckdogs.

Previously: In 2018, Muckdogs fans have watched perhaps the most intriguing player in the NYPL