It has been a struggle all season. And now it's going to cost Williamsport.
It might not have been as famous as the guarantee, but it was one Williamsport promised none the less. And, after dropping a 5-0 decision to Batavia in its first game since the New York-Penn?League All-Star break, Williamsport has to fulfill its promise by giving those in attendance at Wednesday's game free tickets to tonight's game.
The Cutters had plenty of chances to score, stranding six runners through four consecutive innings Wednesday night. Williamsport ended the game leaving nine runners on base and were a combined 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
"I thought we took a lot of fastballs tonight," Cutters manager Andy Tracy said. "You're not going to make it in this league or any league taking fastballs like that."
Of the three innings the Cutters were able to get runners into scoring position, two of the three ended with a strikeout. On the night, the Cutters ended five of the nine innings with a strikeout, two of which were looking.
With the offense stalling, the defense once again committed fielding errors, which resulted in Batavia runs.
David Washington opened the second inning with a short single to right field, but extended the play when Zach Taylor struggled to handle the ball. Gary Apelian then singled, which moved Washington to third, setting up a sacrifice fly by Steve Ramos for the early 1-0 lead.
"Taylor's error in right was a tough one," Tracy said. "They got a couple unearned runs from that stuff, but nothing we shouldn't be able to come back from."
The Muckdogs second run scored when an error at second base opened the fifth.
Again, Ulises Joaquin, who tossed six innings giving up the two runs while working five strikeouts, attempted to recover. Ulises got the next batter looking, but surrendered a single and fielder's choice to give Batavia a 2-0 advantage.
The Muckdogs then scored three runs in the final two innings with Breyvic Valera's double highlighting the eighth and a series of singles resulting in two runs in the ninth.
"You just try to get the team back into a routine," Tracy said. "Baseball is a creature of habit and when you break that routine everything is in flux."
The Crosscutters' New?York-Penn?League All-Stars, Roman Quinn and Chris Serritella, appeared in need of some routine. The pair combined to go 0 for 8 on the night.
The Cutters, with plenty of fans being issued free passes to tonight's game, will have plenty of support getting back to the form that gave them wins in five out of their last six games prior to the All-Star break.
