Americans Dominant Offensive Day Leads to First Mercy Win of the Season 20-3 Over Geneva

        NIAGARA FALLS, NY - The Niagara Falls Americans walked their way to their first mercy rule victory of the season, winning by a score of 20-3 over the Geneva Red Wings. The Americans hit a grand slam and walked 15 times, becoming the second team to score 20 runs in a game this season. This win keeps the Niagara hot streak running, moving the record to 6-0, while Geneva will continue to search for their first victory after losing the first five games of the season.

        In a league season-record tying offensive performance, Paul Dulanto, Ethan Madison, Brady Boles, and Derek Gesmondi were the Americans that shined brightest at the plate. Dulanto had only one hit in his four at bats on the day, but it would be a grand slam, and he walked two times. Madison was the only American to have multiple hits on the day, notching three in four at bats. He drove in three runs on his three hits, and scored twice himself. Boles had one hit, a double, and drove in a run. He walked twice and scored a game-leading four runs. While Gesmondi did not have a hit in the game, his on-base percentage did not struggle, as he worked four walks, which brings his total to seven on the season, leading the team.

        The Americans used only two pitchers in the seven inning game. Luke Blandino started the game, pitching the first five full innings. Joseph Czaja entered in relief, and pitched the final 2.0. Blandino allowed only one hit in his outing, striking out five. Geneva scored three runs with Blandino on the mound, only two of them earned. Czaja allowed no hits and no runs in his two innings of work, striking out three.

        Aiken Santana was the only Red Wing to record a hit in the game, ending the day 1-of-2. Zane Barron walked in a run on his one walk. Braden Freeman accounted for the only other Geneva RBI for the day, reaching on a fielder’s choice.

        Geneva pitched four of their players in the contest. Preston Leech started on the rubber for the Red Wings. Leech would walk seven of the first eight batters in the Americans lineup before leaving the game after recording only one out in the 1st. Cole Litman entered into the game, and pitched the next 2.2 innings, striking out one, but allowing seven runs, same as Leech. Anthony Barton entered next, pitching 2,0 innings, allowing five runs and striking out one. Matt Mady was the final Red Wing on the mound, pitching the full final inning, allowing one run.

        The Americans came out looking to get ahead early against a scrappy opponent searching for their first win, and did so defensively in the top of the 1st. The first three batters of the order for Geneva would be retired, allowing the hot offense to take its chances establishing a lead. Grant Moore walked to start the game, ending his leadoff hit streak, but keeping his leadoff on-base streak alive through its 4th game. Moore then stole second, continuing another streak, his 5th straight game with 1+ stolen base, and tallying his 10th overall swipe of the season. After a groundout, the Americans’ batters chose to show their selectiveness at the plate, and the next six consecutive batters walked their way to 1st base. After the seventh walk of the inning, Geneva’s manager had seen enough, and decided to pull the starter and enter Cole Litman into the game. Ethan Madison greeted the new pitcher to the game by singling to second base, allowing Evan Kohr to score, and keeping the bases loaded, one out pressure on. Jack Satinoff stepped to the plate for the first time this season, and hit a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Allen Ramos to score. With the end of the run on the brink, Moore stepped into the box, and hit a triple to left center that drove in Brady Boles and Madison. Despite the next two batters reaching base and reloading the bases, a groundout to third would end the 1st inning with the Americans up 8-0.

        Neither team scored in the 2nd inning, which was the only zero run inning of the night for Niagara Falls. A 1-2-3 inning for Geneva put the Americans in position to extend their big lead. On the first pitch seen of the inning, Boles hit a double up the middle. After a fly out by Madison, Satinoff would hit another double, this time to right center, that allowed Boles to cross home. After a groundout advanced Satinoff to 3rd, a Connor Kiefer single scored Satinoff. The next two batters reached base, Derek Gesmondi by walk, and Greydon Miller by being hit by pitch. These outcomes gave way to Paul Dulanto to step to the plate with bases loaded. After working to a 3-2 count, Dulanto hit a grand slam to right center field. This was the second home run of the Americans’ season, just one day after Ethan Madison hit the team’s first. The momentum would not last much longer, as after one walk, a strikeout ended the inning.

        The Red Wings would put their first points on the board in the top of the 4th. A leadoff walk started the rally for Geneva. After a wild pitch and a single by Aiken Santana, Geneva had no outs and runners on the corners. A groundball to 1st base by Braden Freeman allowed Jules Conte to erase the zero off the board. Despite nearly hitting into a double play, Freeman was able to make the most of his baserunning chance, stealing both 2nd and 3rd base. After a strikeout, Geneva had a runner on third and only one out left to keep pushing on their rally. A ball hit to third by Jordan Perry wasn’t fielded cleanly by Ramos, allowing Perry to reach 1st, and giving time for Freeman to score. Perry would be caught attempting to steal 2nd base, ending the inning.

        Niagara Falls looked to shutdown any momentum in the bottom of the 4th. After Anthony Barton took over at the start of the inning, he would soon find himself in a bases loaded, two out jam. The Americans came out on the winning side of the pressure, as Gesmondi worked a walk that scored Boles. Miller was the next batter, and he would also take advantage of the situation, hitting a single to the shortstop that drove in Madison. A groundball to the shortstop would end the inning, with the Americans holding the same 14-run lead they had at the start of the 4th.

        The bottom of the 5th inning saw the first three Americans batters reach base. Madison entered the batter’s box and hit a double to right field that scored Kohr and Ramos. Satinoff followed up by hitting his second sacrifice fly of the night, scoring Boles. The next two batters both did not reach base.

        After allowing two walks to start the inning by Luke Blandino, the Americans turned to Joseph Czaja. Czaja would also walk his first two batters of the inning, pushing in Tyler Skaggs, which would be the final run of the game for Geneva.

        In the bottom of the 6th, Miller reached base after being hit by his second pitch of the night. A walk by Dulanto advanced Miller to second. Two wild pitches by Matt Mady allowed Miller to advance to third, and then score. This would be the final run scored of the night. After a leadoff walk in the top of the 7th, the next three batters would be recorded out.

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        Catch the next Americans home game tomorrow, June 12th, when we host the Auburn Doubledays in a contest scheduled to start at 6:30pm. It is Bring Canned Food - Get in Free Night! Be sure to stop at the store before the game to purchase canned food that we can donate to help those in need, and we can be sure to give you a night of enjoyment with Americans baseball! To purchase single-game or season ticktes, call 716-215-6161 or visit niagarafallsamericans.com for more information. Season tickets start as low as $99! If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring the Americans, or organizing a group outing to an Americans game, please contact General Manager Marc Witt at mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.