On the brink of losing, Batavia Muckdogs rally to win, take 1.5-game lead in first place
Written by WBTA STAFF on August 29, 2019
Batavia Muckdogs outfielder Albert Guaimaro watches one fly. He hit a triple and home run in the Muckdogs win on Wednesday with five RBI’s and three hits. He has been on a tear the last three games with seven hits.
Press Release:
On the brink of losing, Batavia Muckdogs rally to win, take 1.5-game lead in first place
BATAVIA – The Batavia Muckdogs season and first-place was down to three outs Wednesday at West Virginia as Batavia trailed 6-4 in the ninth.
But as slugging first-baseman Sean Reynolds coined, “Dogs Don’t Die in August.”
Sure enough, it was Reynolds who got things gong with a single to center then Albert Guaimaro tripled him in and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.
Batavia won in the 10th, 8-7, to go 1.5 games up in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division. Batavia is now 39-32 and West Virginia is now 37-32.
Reynolds had the key at bat to get the rally going.
“It’s what we’ve done since I’ve been here (Reynolds joined the team late and in 25 games has four home runs and 35 in just over three years),” said Reynolds. “But it’s what they have done all year. It’s a never-quit mentality, and thats what it’s like, every game is a must win and we all know that.”
Reynolds said he was not going to go down with a strikeout in the ninth.
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The box score will tell you I wasn’t seeing the ball well tonight but I was going to try to see a pitch over the plate I could handle or lay off the ones out of the zone and get a walk,” he said. “I hit that one just enough (single to center) and then obviously a couple big hits and we we’re right back in the game.”
Reynolds said Guaimaro is a big-game player.
“He’s turning it on at the right time, he’s got that kind of personality, he doesnt’ shy away from the big games,” said Reynolds. “I know he isn’t having the year he dreamed of, but he’s going to get the hits when it matters and that’s in the bigger games.”
The two teams play again Thursday morning at 10:05 a.m. and Friday at 7:05 p.m.
Evan Brabrand, who normally throws one inning, came in with one out in the ninth. With two runners on, he got a ground out, a strikeout and a groundout to keep the Muckdogs alive.
In the top of the 10th, Dalvy Rosario, who was the last out in the ninth, started on second base. Troy Johnston had an infield single then Rosario scored on a wild pitch. Nic Ready singled and stole second. Johnston scored on a throwing error for an 8-6 lead.
Brabrand, who got the win, pitched two innings striking out two, tying his longest outing of the season. Bra brand, a 9th round Miami Marlins draft pick out of Liberty, is now 4-1 with 13 saves in 19 games with a 1.35 ERA.
Brock Love, a recent University of Alabama grad, came on and earned his first professional save. Love, who made the NYPL All-Star game, got the final two outs with the potential tying and winning runs on base.
In the last three games, Guaimaro has gone 7-for-13 with two home runs, a triple, 5 RBIs and six runs. He was 3-for-5 on Wednesday.
Michael Hernandez (double), Jack Strunc, Kobie Taylor (2-RBI single that game the Muckdogs a 4-3 lead), Rosario and J.D. Orr all had hits while Nic Ready (stolen base) hit his 28th double and had two hits and a run while Troy Johnston had two hits and scored twice.
Edgar Martinez went five innings striking out two and Joey Steele earned his fourth hold of the season, tossing one perfect inning with a strikeout.
Batavia returns home for a game Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and home Sunday at 5:05 p.m. before ending the season at Auburn on Monday. West Virginia has five games with Mahoning Valley.
Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night and fireworks. The Batavia High School 2019 Section V championship team will be honored as well.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 Muckdogs are on Facebook, twitter and Instagram and now have a BataviaMuckdogs snapchat account. Follow the team on social media for game updates and videos and photos during the games of fans and players.
