Americans Shutout 0-8 in Game One of Doubleheader in Canada

ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO, CANADA - The Niagara Falls Americans traveled to George Taylor Field in Canada to faceoff in a doubleheader with the Niagara-Canada Ironbacks. Cold bats paired with a big 2nd inning by the Ironbacks paved the way for a 0-8 victory for the Canadian squad. This was the Ironbacks' first win against the Americans in the eight matchup between the teams. This game moves the Americans to 17-11 overall, while Niagara-Canada improves to 4-22.

The Americans were limited to just three hits in the contest, each by a different batter. Grant Moore, Allen Ramos, and Jack Satinoff were the most prominent Americans. Each of the three players batted 1-of-2, and drew one walk. Moore and Ramos, alongside Tommy Mathay, each also recorded one stolen base.

Just two pitchers entered the contest for the Americans. Joe Czaja started, pitching the first 4.0 innings before Carter Hall entered to pitch the final 2.0. Czaja allowed eight runs, six earned, in his time, striking out five of his 27 batters faced. Hall held the Ironbacks scoreless, striking out two of his nine batters seen.

The Ironbacks' winning output was led by Andrew Bishop, Carter Shin, and Alex Kean. Bishop batted 2-of-4, tallying one RBI and one stolen base. Shin also batted 2-of-4 with one RBI. Kean batted just 1-of-4, hitting a three-RBI triple. 

Niagara-Canada also used just two pitchers in the combined shutout, with Jack Kemp pitching the first 5.0 innings and earning his second win of the season. Kemp struck out six of his 26 batters faced. Max Rutherford pitched the final 2.0, walking four batters, but allowing no hits and striking out one.

Despite both teams putting pressure on the defenses, neither team was able to break the 0-0 tie until the bottom of the 2nd. The Ironbacks came out hungry, scoring six of their eight runs in the 2nd. Brock Grainger led off the inning with a double to left center field before advancing to 3rd on a wild pitch. With a run 90 feet away, Carter Shin opened the scoring by driving in Grainger on a single through the left side. After a strikeout put one run on the board, a Chase Hubbel single followed by a Cadyn Wilson walk loaded the bases. Nolan Phelan worked a four-pitch walk to push Shin over home plate before Alex Kean batted a bases-clearing triple to center field. Kean was driven home himself on a single by Devan Madore, scoring the sixth and final run of the inning. 

Niagara-Canada extended their lead in the bottom of the 4th, scoring both of their final two runs in the game. Despite a leadoff single, a tag at 3rd base followed by a strikeout put two outs on the board with no runners on base. With a quick end of the inning on the horizon, a throwing error by the Americans allowed Madore to reach 1st base. Madore stole second base before scoring on an Andrew Bishop single to right field. Bishop advanced to second on a throw, putting himself to score off of Marcus Butts doubling down the left field line. Despite loading the bases, the Ironbacks did not score again in the inning, and their 8-0 lead would hold for the remainder of the game.

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Catch the next Americans home game tomorrow, July 7th, when we host the Newark Pilots in a contest scheduled to start at 6:30pm. It is Johnnie Ryan Soda Night, so come to the stadium and enjoy an iconic Niagara Falls beverage and cheer on your 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.