Offense Clicks in Late Innings, Win 11-3 In Geneva

        GENEVA, NY - The Niagara Falls Americans traveled to Geneva to face the Red Wings, winning the game by a score of 11-3. With just one run scored entering the 6th inning, late performances propelled the Americans to victory. With this win, the Americans have won five in a row, moving to 12-6 overall, while Geneva falls to 3-15.

        On a strong offensive night, Ethan Madison, Ian Huang, and Grant Moore led the way for the visitors. Madison batted 3-of-5, driving in three RBIs. Huang batted 3-of-4, driving in two runs and walking one time. Moore tallied two hits, two walks, three RBIs, and four stolen bases across his six plate appearances. 

        Luke Blandino and Robert Leach were the only Niagara Falls pitchers to appear in the outing. Blandino pitched the first 6.0 innings, earning his third win of the season. The Red Wings achieved just two hits and two walks off Blandino, leading to one unearned run, striking out three times. Leach pitched the final 3.0 innings, allowing two runs, striking out three, and earning his first save of the summer.

        The slow night for the Red Wings was led by Casey Burcroff and Braden Freeman. Burcroff batted 1-of-3, hitting a double and walking once, tallying one RBI. Freeman was the only other Red Wing to record an RBI, doing so on one single in his two at bats.

        The Red Wings threw four pitchers in the game. Dawson Thomas, the game’s losing pitcher, started the first 5.0 innings, allowing three runs and striking out four. Smitty Washington IV entered next, pitching one full inning, allowing one run on one hit and two walks. Stephen Pearson was the next pitcher for Geneva, also pitching one full inning. Pearson allowed two runs on one strikeout across eight batters faced. John McGowan entered to pitch the final 2.0 innings, allowing five runs and striking out one.

        The first half of the game was slow offensively, but the first run was scored in the bottom of the 2nd. After two groundouts to start the inning, it appeared that the Americans were on pace to wrap up the inning scoreless. Dylan Briggs spoiled the dream however, walking to break up the 1-2-3 innings opportunity. The next at bat concluded with a throwing error by the Americans’ catcher, allowing the batter to reach 1st and for Briggs to advance to 3rd. During the next at bat, a balk by Blandino allowed Briggs to cross home and give Geneva an early 1-0 lead.

        The Americans quickly responded, tying the game back up in the top of the 3rd. The second batter of the inning, Tommy Mathay, singled to left center before advancing to 2nd on a passed ball. With one out and a runner in scoring position, Grant Moore hit another single to left center, allowing Mathay to score. The inning ended soon after with the game tied 1-1.

        The tie held until the top of the 6th, when the Americans started their late run and scored what would hold to be the winning run. After back-to-back singles by Ethan Madison and Paul Dulanto started the inning, the Red Wings turned the mound over to Smitty Washington IV. Washington IV’s first batter, Dalton Harper, walked to load the bases with no outs. Ian Huang stepped into the batters box with a huge opportunity to drive in runs. Huang took advantage, singling through the right side, driving in Madison and Dulanto. During the same play, Harper ran to 3rd, beating the throw from right field to the third baseman. On the throw from the outfield, Huang advanced to 2nd base. Attempting to get Huang out, Geneva’s 3rd baseman threw the ball to 2nd base, but was ruled a throwing error, allowing Huang to reach safely, and allowing Harper to go home, scoring the 3rd run of the inning, and eventual game-winning run. Despite the Americans offense keeping pressure on, the inning ended with no more runs scored.

        Stephen Pearson took over on the mound for Geneva to start the 7th inning. Moore, the leadoff batter, greeted him with a walk before stealing second base. The following batter, Evan Kohr, also walked before a double steal put the runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Madison continued his late heroics, singling through the left side, scoring Moore and moving Kohr to 3rd. Dulanto followed suit, again singling through the left side, this time scoring Kohr. Despite the bases becoming loaded later in the inning, the Americans were not able to tally any more runs.

        In the bottom of the 7th, Geneva greeted a new arm with some offensive output. Robert Leach entered to start the 7th for Niagara Falls, and his first three batters faced reached base, Michael Ucci by walk, and Zane Barron and Briggs by singles, loading the bases with no outs. After a strikeout on the fourth batter, a walk on Casey Burcroff pushed Ucci over home plate. The next two batters struck out and then lined out to complete the inning.

        The top of the 8th saw the Americans continue their late run, but not without early doubt. John McGowan entered to pitch for the Red Wings, and recorded outs on his first two batters faced. With the scoring streak in jeopardy, Moore walked, and then stole second to put a runner on 2nd with two outs. Following the same script as the 7th inning, Kohr walked before both runners stole bases, reaching 2nd and 3rd with two outs. In a deja vu moment, Madison hit another single through the left side, this time scoring both runners instead of just one. A flyout ended the inning with the Americans up 9-2.

        After a 1-2-3 inning on Geneva in the bottom of the 8th, the Americans added even more insurance runs in the 9th inning. After a leadoff groundout, Huang singled and then advanced to 2nd after Greydon Miller was hit by his 7th pitch of the season, putting him in a three-way tie for second most. Brady Boles flew out next to put two outs on the board with runners on 1st and 2nd. Allen Ramos hit another single RBI single for his second consecutive game, scoring Huang. Mathay walked next to load the bases. Moore took advantage, hitting a ball to center field that scored both Miller and Ramos. A groundout on the next batter ended the inning with the Americans leading 11-2.

        Needing nine or more runs to keep their chances alive, Geneva came out looking for a huge 9th inning. A leadoff groundout dampened those chances before a walk on Barron put their first baserunner on. During the next at bat, Barron stole second before a lineout recorded the second out of the inning. Just one out away from the end of the game, Braden Freeman singled to center field, scoring Barron, the final run of the game.

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        Catch the next Americans home game tomorrow, 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 and enjoy some drinks of your choosing and cheer on your Niagara Falls Americans! 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.