The prospects of the Oneonta Tigers playing postseason baseball this season took another major hit Tuesday night.
For the second straight day, Oneonta hitters produced four hits against Staten Island pitching _ this time falling, 4-1, in a New York-Penn League game on the road.
Because the Tigers' 7-6 victory over Staten Island on Monday in the completion of a suspended game counts as an Aug. 9 win, the Tigers have lost four straight games. During that stretch, Tigers have scored a total of six runs.
Coupled with Lowell's 8-2 victory at Aberdeen on Tuesday, the second-place Tigers (33-29) are now 2 1/2 games behind the Stedler Division-leading Spinners (36-27). Oneonta also fell into third place in the wild-card standings behind Staten Island (36-27) and Williamsport (35-29).
The Tigers have 13 games remaining on their schedule, including the conclusion of their three-game series against Staten Island at 7:05 tonight.
Following tonight's game, Oneonta completes its Damaschke Field schedule with a nine-game homestand that begins Thursday against McNamara Division-leading Brooklyn (41-23). After three games against Brooklyn, Oneonta hosts Hudson Valley (31-33) for three games before playing three games against Lowell.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning on a two-out RBI double to right by Jamie Johnson. It scored Jimmy Gulliver, who walked with two outs.
In the bottom of the inning, the Yankees answered with three runs off reliever Michael Morrison.
Oneonta starter Nathan Newman held Staten Island scoreless through four innings, allowing four hits, no walks and striking out two.
But Morrison (1-1) walked Kelvin Castro to start the fifth and gave up a single to center to Carmen Angelini that sent Castro to third.
After Justin Milo struck out, Jimmy Paredes grounded to first baseman Rawley Bishop, who tried to get Castro at home, but his throw was late as the Yankees tied the score at 1.
Morrison then hit Zoilio Almonte with a pitch to load the bases.
Michael Torrealba relieved Morrison and walked DeAngelo Mack as Angelini scored to make it 2-1. Luke Murton followed with a sacrifice fly to to center that scored Paredes.
Neil Medchill's homer to right in the eighth inning off Kenny Faulk capped the scoring. It was Medchill's 13th homer of the season.
Alexis Espinoza had two hits for Oneonta. Johnson and Michael Rockett each had one.
STILL NO BEER: Oneonta Tigers General Manager Andrew Weber said there was no update Tuesday about the possibility of beer sales at Damaschke Field. Weber said he is scheduled to meet with his lawyer this morning to discuss the team's options.
The Daily Star reported Friday that the O-Tigers hadn't filed for a state liquor license this year, though the team had said throughout the season it was waiting for the State Liquor Authority to approve its application.
YANKEES 4, O-TIGERS 1
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