Demetrius Webb (Indiana) is congratulated after his two-run home run.
The Albany Dutchmen found themselves on the losing end of their first game after the two-day All-Star break, falling at Shuttleworth Park to the Amsterdam Mohawks, 8-2. The loss dropped the Dutchmen to 15-17, two games clear of the Glens Falls Golden Eagles for the final playoff spot in the East Division of the PGCBL.
The Amsterdam scoring began in the second inning, as the Mohawks plated three runs to take a lead they would not relinquish. Jonathan Pryor (Wake Forest) grounded out to first base, but brought home Alex DeBellis (Lynn) for the game’s opening run. Josh Gardiner (Radford) then singled to bring home two runs and give Amsterdam a 3-0 lead.
The Mohawks added another run in the third inning, as a leadoff single from Tom Kain (Lynn) led to an RBI groundout from DeBellis with one out in the inning.
The lead was extended to 7-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, as the Mohawks plated three runs in the inning. Three consecutive runs began the inning for Amsterdam, and Debellis clubbed a two-run single to make it a 6-0 victory. The seventh run came in when Gardiner clubbed a single to score Brendan Tracy (Fairfield).
Albany got on the board in the top of the seventh inning, courtesy of Demetrius Webb. The Indiana catcher drilled a two-run home run over the left field wall. The home run was Webb’s first of the season, and trimmed the Mohawk lead to 7-2.
Amsterdam answered with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Kain drove in a run on a fielder’s choice as the Dutchmen attempted to turn an inning ending double play.
The winning pitcher for the Mohawks was Connor Johnstone (Wake Forest), while Albany’s Jose Hernandez took the loss.
The Dutchmen begin a crucial four-game series with the Glens Falls Golden Eagles on Friday. The first two games will be in Albany on Friday, a doubleheader consisting of a pair of seven-inning games. The second game of this twin bill will be the fourth annual Pink Game, as the Dutchmen will be sporting special pink jerseys, which will be auctioned off. There will also be a raffle held at the game, with proceeds benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American Cancer Society. Prizes include a limited edition lithograph signed by Don Larsen and Yogi Berra, commemorating their perfect game, as well as four New York Yankees tickets and a Yankees hat signed by Robinson Cano. It is also another Yankee Trails Baseball Bingo Friday, with a trip for two to Foxwoods Resort and Casino on the line.
