Americans Close Out Ironbacks 9-4 for Fourth Consecutive Win

        NIAGARA FALLS, NY - On another hot day at The Barbershop, the Niagara Falls Americans fended off the Niagara Ironbacks by a score of 9-4. The Americans have now won all six of the matchups between these two squads, and is now riding a four-game win streak. The Ironbacks have fallen to 2-13 while the Americans climb to 11-6 on the season.

        On a 10-hit night for the home team, Grant Moore, Paul Dulanto, and Chris Guzaldo were prominent. Moore batted 2-of-4, driving in two runs, walking once, and stealing two bases. Dulanto tallied two hits in five at bats, notching two RBIs. Guzaldo was the final Americans batter to tally two hits, doing so in four at bats.

        The home squad threw four pitchers in the win. John Ondus pitched the first 4.0 innings, allowing four runs, just two earned, with four strikeouts. Aiden Klimtzak made his Americans debut, pitching the next 1.2 innings, and being credited with the win. Klimtzak allowed no hits, just two walks, and struck out two of his seven total batters faced. Austin Barton entered to finish the 6th inning, pitching the next 2.1 innings. Barton allowed no runs, striking out two. CJ Hurley entered to pitch the full 9th inning, striking out two of his three batters faced.

        Niagara-Canada‘s batting was led by Marcus Butts, Alex Kean, and Connor Gaitens. Butts batted three singles in four at bats. Kean, who played as both a pitcher and batter, tallied two singles and a walk in his four plate appearances. Gaitens hit a two-run homer to score the Ironbacks’ first runs, and walked in one of his four total plate appearance.

        Alex Kean, the designated hitter, started for the visitors, pitching 2.0 innings. Kean allowed three runs, two earned, striking out two. Mitchell McKinney, the games losing pitcher, threw the next 2.0, allowing two runs, just one earned. McKinney allowed two hits and two walks, striking out one. Jack Kemp entered next, pitching 3.0 innings. Kemp also allowed two hits and two walks, leading to just one earned run. Eli Thompson pitched the final full inning for Niagara-Canada, allowing three earned runs on three hits, striking out one.

        The Americans took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the 2nd. A leadoff groundout initially put scoring in doubt, but the next three batters reaching by walk, hit by pitch, and single quickly swung the tides in favor of the home team. Greydon Miller hit into an RBI fielder’s choice to the shortstop, pushing Brady Boles over the plate. The shortstop looked to second, attempting to start turning a double play before a throwing error allowed the runner to reach 2nd safely, and allowed Ian Huang to score the second run of the play. Carmen Panaro batted next, singling through the right side and scoring Chris Guzaldo. Line outs by two of the next three batters allowed the Ironbacks to close out the inning down 0-3.

        In the top of the 3rd, the Ironbacks looked to quickly respond to the Americans spark. John Ondus came out shutting down any momentum shift by getting the first two batters out. On the third batter, Bryce Bedrosian, a ground ball to 1st base appeared to complete a 1-2-3 inning before an error by the 1st baseman allowed the batter to reach 1st safely. The next batter, Connor Gaitens, took advantage by hitting a home run to left field, scoring himself and Bedrosian, both unearned runners. Ondus got back on track quickly, striking out the next batter and ending the inning with the Americans still leading, now by a score of 3-2.

        The Ironbacks scored again in the top of the 4th. The visitors came out hot with the first two batters, Marcus Butts and Alex Kean singling, and then advancing to 2nd and 3rd on a wild pitch. A fielder’s choice by Devan Madore on a comeback to the pitcher put runners on the corners with one out. During the next at bat, Madore stole second base, and when the catcher threw to attempt to catch him stealing, Butts ran home and scored the tying run. After the plate appearance finished with a walk, Madore stole 3rd base, putting himself 90 feet from a lead, with still just one out. Grayson Briggs hit a dangerous ball to shortstop, and despite an out at 2nd base, the throw to first was too slow to complete the double play, resulting in Madore scoring the go-ahead run for Niagara-Canada. Despite another single, the inning ended soon after with the visitors up 4-3. The Americans defense shut down the visiting offense after this point, as the Ironbacks did not score again in the contest.

        The Americans quickly counterpunched by scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the 4th, and retaking the lead. Despite a leadoff foul out, the next three batters reached base, two by walk, and one by error. With just one out in the inning, Paul Dulanto took the bases loaded opportunity and turned in a single to left field that scored Panaro and Grant Moore. The next two batters were recorded out, ending the inning 5-4 Americans.

        The home squad next extended their lead in the bottom of the 7th. Dulanto hit a leadoff single before advancing to third on the back of an Ethan Madison single and Dalton Harper walk. With bases loaded, no outs, Boles hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Dulanto. The inning ended with the next batter, as a foul pop out to the catcher allowed Harper to be tagged out at 1st base.

        The Americans tacked on some more insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th. Jack Kemp entered to finish the game for the Ironbacks, and was greeted by back-to-back singles through the sides by Guzaldo and Miller. A sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third with one out. Moore hit a third single, this time through the left side again, and scored both Guzaldo and Miller, before advancing to 2nd on the throw. During the next at bat, Moore attempted to steal 3rd, and despite an on-time and accurate throw by the catcher, a muff error on the 3rd baseman allowed Moore to reach 3rd, and then additionally run home and score the ninth and final run for the Americans.

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        The Americans will travel to Geneva to face the Red Wings tomorrow. Tune into our broadcast, scheduled for 6:30pm, alongside the first pitch. Catch the next Americans home game the day after, June 26th, when we host the Niagara Ironbacks in a contest scheduled to start at 6:30pm. It is $2 Beer Night, so come to the stadium, enjoy some drinks, cheer on your Niagara Falls Americans, and get home safely! To purchase single-game or season tickets, 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.