Schenectady, NY 6/22 - Thank God for the A-Diamond! On a night where there were games washed out, the 62 Yankees and 62 Pirates were able to square off in a good one with the Yankees breaking on top early and holding on for a 7-5 victory!
The Pinstripers jumped on Bucs soft tosser Jimmie Dalton, for 5 in the 1st, on Player of the Game Tony Nardacci's first of two hits, a SB, and rbi(s) from Wil Freguson, Steve Van Gelder, and Joe Hervieux. The Pirates answered back with 2 unearned in the first, on rbi FC by Wayne Newcomb and a Fred Pidgeon base hit.
Dalton settled in after the shaky start retiring 9 of the next 11 with 3 scoreless frames. Meanwhile Yankees starter Craig Miller went to work carving up the Swashbuclers, allowing only 2 runs over the next 5 innings, with Newcomb and Pidgeon again plating ribbys with back to back singles in the 3rd as Bucs cut lead to 5-4. Game turned in favor of the Yankees, when Paul Cerone dropped down a perfect bunt base hit that just stayed on the 3rd base line (no easy task on the A-Diamond carpet), and advanced all the way to 3rd on a Pirate error. Jim Konstantakis followed with a knock, and after an error and Nardacci rbi single, Dalton's nite was done. Bill Farrell took over on the bump and got the 2nd out of the inning on a pick-off at 2nd, and then retired Ferguson on a shot to right on the first pitch. Farrell was outstanding with 2 and 1/3 of 1-hit scoreless work out of the bullpen.
Pirates rally fell short in the 7th, scoring one on a Ken Shaw single, SB, and coming around on an error. Miller was masterful not letting a ball out if the infield over the last 3 innings except for the Shaw rap. Nardacci was money all nite at short with 6 assists and 2 put-outs including an over the shoulder sparkler off the bat of Rick Knipper. Tony also was 2 for 3 with a run scored and SB. Ferguson 1-2, 1 r and a sb, and Jimmy K 1/3, 1 r and rbi led the Yankees, while Pidgeon was 2-2, 2 rbi and Newcomb 1-3, 1 r and rbi, and Paul Peters 1-3, 2 r and a sb paced the Pirates.
Pirates drop to 3-2, while Yankees improved to.500 at 2-2. Will look forward to the rematch! Yankees class showed as always, and nice to share a cooler session with them!
