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Americans Defeat Ironbacks for 10th Time This Season 5-2
ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO, CANADA - The Niagara Falls Americans traveled to Ontario to faceoff with the Niagara Ironbacks for the 11th time. The visitors continued their winning ways in the series, achieving a 5-2 victory to earn their 10th win of the season against the Ironbacks. The Americans climb to 23-13 overall, while the Ironbacks drop to 5-30.
Five different Americans tallied hits in the contest. Grant Moore, Nick Paszt, and Tommy Mathay led the way for Niagara Falls. Moore batted 2-of-5, the only American with multiple hits, tallying one RBI in the game. Paszt was productive in all four of his plate appearances, hitting one RBI double, a sacrifice fly, and reaching base twice on hit by pitches. Mathay batted 1-of-4, walking once and scoring a run on both baserunning opportunities.
Effective pitching by Hudson Boring and Robert Leach paved the way for an Americans victory. Boring, the starter and winning pitcher, threw 6.0 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, and striking out six of his 26 batters faced. Leach pitched the final 3.0 innings, earning his fourth save of the season. Across 10 batters faced, he only allowed one baserunner, on a walk, retiring all nine of his other batters faced, five of them by strikeout.
In the seven-hit performance for Niagara-Canada, Carter Shin, Devan Madore, and Marcus Butts were the most effective Ironbacks. Shin batted 2-of-3, the only Ironback with multiple hits, with one double and one walk. Madore hit an RBI single in one of his three at bats, as well as stealing one base. Butts batted 1-of-4, tallying the other Ironbacks RBI on a single.
The Ironbacks threw three pitchers in the contest. Derek Riesberry started the first 4.0 innings, allowing three runs, striking out two of his 19 batters faced and being tagged with the loss. Ethan Catney-Forbes pitched the next 3.0 innings, allowing two unearned runs and striking out two across 14 batters. Eli Thompson threw the final 2.0 innings scoreless, both walking and striking out one.
Both teams struck early, with the Americans scoring their first run of the game in the top of the 1st. Grant Moore led off the game with a single to left center field. The next batter struck out before Moore advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch, and then advanced again when the at bat ended with a ground out. On the first pitch of the next at bat, another wild pitch allowed Moore to cross home. The at bat ended with a ground out on the next pitch, giving the Americans the early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Niagara-Canada countered with a run of their own. The Ironbacks also led off the inning with a single to center field. The batter, Matt Evans, advanced to 3rd base three batters later, when an error allowed Andrew Bishop to reach 1st. With runners on the corners and two outs, Marcus Butts hit another single to center field, scoring Evans and tying the game.
The Americans took a one-run lead again in the top of the 2nd inning. After a leadoff flyout, the next three batters all reached 1st to load the bases. Tommy Mathay singled, Chris Guzaldo worked a walk, and Connor Kiefer reached on a hit by pitch before a wild pitch advanced all runners, scoring Mathay. Despite a hit by pitch loading the bases again, the Americans hit into a double play to end the inning.
Niagara Falls extended their lead in the top of the 4th. With one out already on the board, Guzaldo was hit by pitch to be the first baserunner of the inning. Guzaldo stole 2nd base on the strikeout pitch of the next at bat to put a runner in scoring position with two outs. Nick Paszt stepped to the plate next, hitting a double to left center field and scoring Guzaldo.
Niagara-Canada responded in the bottom of the inning, cutting the lead back to one run. After a leadoff single by Bishop was lined off the pitcher, the next two batters both were retired. With two outs on the board, the Ironbacks were able to find a spark, with Nolan Phelan and Devan Madore hitting back-to-back singles. Madore's single drove in Bishop for the Ironbacks' second and final run of the game.
The visitors scored two insurance runs in the top of the 6th. Leadoff batter Paul Dulanto reached on a fielding error before stealing 2nd base. Mathay walked to 1st before a fielder's choice allowed Guzaldo to reach base, recording Dulanto out at 3rd. The next batter, Kiefer, was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Paszt recorded an RBI on his second-straight at bat of the game on a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Mathay. Moore continued the productive streak by singling to center field, scoring Guzaldo. The next at bat ended with a flyout. The Americans finished the inning with a 5-2 lead that held for the remainder of the game.
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Catch the next Americans home game tomorrow, July 15th, when we host the Batavia Muckdogs in a contest scheduled to start at 6:30pm. It is Guaranteed Win Night, so come to the stadium and watch your Niagara Falls Americans earn a victory, our guarantee! 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.