The Golden Eagles Split Doubleheader With Phillies
In the teams’ first doubleheader of the season, the Glens Falls Golden Eagles split with the Saratoga Phillies, defeating the Phillies 5-2 in game one for the first time at home in 2009, and losing 3-2 in game two for their third loss at home to the Phillies.
On the season, Glens Falls’ win-loss record in one-run games is 0-3, losing to the Phillies 3-2 back on June 7 at East Field, and losing 9-8 in extra innings to the Watertown Wizards at Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds.
“You don’t want the big inning to hurt you, Golden Eagles head coach John Mayotte said. “One run never’s going to hurt you in a season.”
Though they still sit in first place at 10-4, with almost a three-game cushion in the NYCBL East Division, Glens Falls has lost three games at home to Saratoga.
“You do your job, you’ll be in first place,”John Mayotte said. “You don’t and you’ll be in last place.”
The Golden Eagles shutout the Phillies 6-0 down in Saratoga back on June 11 and play road games against the Albany Dutchmen on Wednesday, a doubleheader against the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs this weekend, and the Phillies on the road, both Tuesday and Friday.
The Eagles host two home games against the Watertown Wizards, both Monday, June 22, and Thursday. Next Sunday, Glens Falls play home against the Dutchmen.
Singles from the freshman duo of shortstop Eric Phillips (Georgia Southern) in the second and catcher Conner Gandossy (Saint Louis) in the third failed to put the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard early, even after leadoff hitter Steve Zavala (Rutgers) sacrificed Gandossy to second, and Anthony Giansanti (Siena) walked.
Both games of the doubleheader today lasted seven innings.
Glens Falls finally plated two runs in the sixth when, with one-out, freshman left fielder Rodarrick Jones (New Orleans) poked a double to deep right and later stole third. After freshman designated hitter Justin Zumwalde (Pima C.C.) and Phillips both worked walks, freshman second basemen Kevin Berry (New Orleans) came up with the bases loaded and two outs looking to give the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game.
Berry sent a single down the right field baseline, scoring both Jones and Zumwalde. Phillips, who came charging home all the way from first on the Berry single, was called out at home on a controversial play.
“We thought he was safe and the tag never touched him,” Mayotte said. “I was following all the way down the line, waving the runner, and I had a real good look at the play.”
Homeplate umpire waits to call Eric Phillips, No.18, out at the plate as Rodarrick Jones signals safe. The run would have tied the game for Glens Falls in the sixth, the games' second to last inning.
“I didn’t think he ever touched him,” Mayotte complained. “But that’s the umpire’s call and you’ve got to live with what he says”.
Pinch-hitting in the ninth for sophomore first basemen Nick Valdez (Central Arizona), junior Nick Schrock (Texas Wesleyan) walked and sophomore Chris Lashmet (Northwestern), who replaced Zavala in the batters’ box, singled to shallow left. After a pass ball pushed both runners into scoring position, the Saratoga pitcher intentionally walked Rodarrick Jones (New Orleans) to load up the bases for the second straight inning.
Unfortunately, the Golden Eagles failed to tie up the game and lost 3-2.
Pitching in his first start of the season, freshman right-handed Zach Kraham (Albany) lasted five innings before junior reliever Kellen Candau (Southern Illinois) entered the game for the final two. Candau tossed two scoreless innings, striking out two Phillies hitters, and decreased his ERA to 1.28 on the season.
Saratoga pitcher Tim Busbin (UC Davis) picked up the win, striking out five Golden Eagles in five innings. Offensively, the Phillies scored one run in the first inning and two runs in the fourth.
Glens Falls next plays Saratoga on the road Tuesday, June 23, and Friday, June 26.