PLATTSBURGH, NY – Redbirds took game one from Puerto Rico  Islanders  in a very close game pitchers duel.

Puerto Rico once again started with a run in the top of the first  inning but the Redbirds answered when Josh Martinez squeezed in Christian Nazario-Cruz.

The game was well played on both sides until the bottom of the 3rd inning when the RedBirds put up 2 runs to take a 3-1 lead led by Josh Martinez who had all 3 RBI’s in the game.

Nazario-Cruz led the game with 2 hits while the team had a total of 6 hits.

Taylor Perry started for the Redbirds going 4 innings allowing just 1 earned run, striking out 3 but walking 7. Damian Boyum came in for Perry and was dominant in his 3 innings of work not allowing a single hit, walking 1 batter and striking out a game high 5 Islanders.

Andres Arroyo and Michael Heller were the only Islanders with hits as Arroyo stays hot at the plate. Although 11  Islanders were walked by RedBird pitching, they could not generate enough runs to win the game.

Puerto Rico Islanders Starter Darren Lauer went the distance throwing 8 innings  allowing all 3 earned runs while striking out 5 batters. An impressive start for the right hander but lack of offense was the difference in this one.

Game two of the Series between the Islanders and the RedBirds is tomorrow night at 4:30pm ET. Tickets are available online or at the gate.

Article by Empire Media

OLD ORCHARD BEACH, ME – Surge top Explorers in series opener by a score of 10-8.

Old Orchard Beach Surge went down quickly in the first inning as the Explorers put up 3 runs on great hitting led by Jesse Hughes who had a long single off the wall to drive in 2 runs.

The Surge would come back in the second inning with 3 runs of their own.

Tony Bakeris homered with a runner on base in the 5th inning to put the Surge on top 5-3

Kevin Putkonen followed the next inning with his 1st homer of the season to put the Surge up 8-3.

Sullivan wouldn’t go away though as they put up 3 runs off reliever Luis Velasquez. Velasquez was able to get out of the inning with no further damage by striking out red hot Explorers hitter Jesse Hughes with runners in the corners.

After a triple by Edgar Lebron who scored with a sac fly, Mike Davis hit a screamer to left in the bottom of the 7th but a great play by Cole Easley turned it into a sac fly to score Gevon Jackson to put the game 10-6. Edgar Lebron was just a Home Run shy of a cycle.

Spencer Prusack gave up a home run to Samuel Carter to start the 8th but bounced back with 2 strikeouts and get out of the inning.

Joe Macks started for the Explorers and pitched 5.0 innings and got the loss.

Casey Cannon, although struggled in the first, bounced back to pitch 6.0 innings and get the win.

Next game is scheduled for tomorrow at 6:30pm at The Ballpark in OOB.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH, ME –  Islanders off to a great start as they earn their second win of the year with great pitching and clutch hitting.

It was an entertaining game to watch as the final score was 6-4. A back and forth battle and a lot of clutch hitting on both sides made it fun to watch  until the last out was made. But Puerto Rico was able to hang on  till the end to get their second victory of the Season.

Ernesto Punales shook off his debut outing and came back with a strong start for the Islanders as he  goes 5.2 innings  allowed just 3 Earned Runs  while striking out an Islanders best 8 hitters. The Surge were able to capitalize by getting 10 hits off pinales but Pinales was able to get  out of innings with big pitches earning him his first Empire League win. Islanders Nick Kevlin relieved Punales and was also stellar as he went 3.1 innings pitched, not allowing a single run while striking out 5 Surge Batters and earning the Save. He was able to get out of a big 7th inning bases loaded jam as he struck out the Surge 4 and 5 hole hitters with less than 2 outs.

Surge starter Jeff Williams provided 6 strong innings allowing just 3 earned runs but a few early Surge errors allowed for 5 total runs to come in for the Islanders and the difference in this one.

A monster shot to the right field wall by Ramon Cedeño in the 7th in which he was thrown out trying to get an inside the park home run played a big role in insurance runs for the Islanders. Cesar Arroyo came up clutch for the Islanders as he triples to the left center gap for his first career hit as a professional.  Michael Heller has a big double late in the game but was thrown out at third base trying to get a triple.

Kevin Putkonen got out of his funk  providing the Surge with 2 clutch shots to right field with 2 outs to drive in 2 of the Surge runs.  Eric Frain, Gevon Jackson and James Simpson also led the way with two hits for the Surge while Ramon Cedeño, Michael Heller led the way for the Islanders with also two hits and Nick McHugh who had an incredible night going  a perfect 3 for 3 in his first career pro start.

This game ties the series at 2 to start of the season and the series will be decided tomorrow night as the Islanders face the Surge for the last game of the series at 6:30pm ET.

For Tickets and more visit www.empireproleague.com

Article by Empire Media

PLATTSBURGH, NY –  Drue Bravo has been moved to The York Revolution of the Atlantic League after his outstanding  complete game shutout on his Empire League Debut.

Drue Bravo demonstrated that he is ready to be stepped up.  He spoiled the RedBirds franchise opener by going the distance while not allowing a single run.  He will now step up to the highest level of independent baseball in the Atlantic League where he will be facing players of Major League experience.

“With  only one complete day of Empire League action, i felt that Drue showed he is ready for Elite action and the call was made” – Eddie Gonzalez

Bravo will report tomorrow to join the Revolution for their next matchup and will serve as one of the teams starters.

Article by Empire Media

OLD ORCHARD BEACH, ME – Surge hitters put up 10 runs to top off Puerto Rico on Sundays matchup.

 

It was all Old Orchard Beach in this one as two early errors by second baseman Cesar Arroyo allowed two runs to score and the Surge never looked back.

 

Surge starter Branden Henriquez pitched a solid game as he only allowed one run through 6 innings and earning his first professional victory.

 

Mike Davis nearly had his 3rd Home Run of the season just missing it by 2 feet as he doubled off the top of the wall. Doug Matas and Jake Simpson also doubled for their first professional hits. Parker Franklin had a big 2-Run single followed by a double from Tony Bakeris.

 

Puerto Rico scored their first run from a stolen base by speedy Calvin Graves. That was the first home steal in Empire League history. Michael Heller doubled in the 9th and Joenny Vazquez followed with a monster 2-Run Home Run off Closer Cosme Zapata to put the score 10-3. A base hit from Calvin Graves and a walk from Taran Tani allowed for Brian Collazo to sacrifice fly to left to score another run. But that was it for the Islanders.

 

Both teams face off again tomorrow for the 4th game of the series out of 5.

 

Article by Empire Media