Staff Report
They scored two runs on nine hits over three games.
Not surprisingly, the Oneonta Tigers were swept in a three-game series at Staten Island, capped by a 1-0 setback Wednesday.
Alexis Espinoza's leadoff single in the fifth represented the lone hit for the Tigers, who had two baserunners and are quickly falling out of contention for a New York-Penn League playoff spot.
The Tigers have lost five straight, marking their longest skid of the season. Oneonta won the completion of a suspended game Monday, 7-6 in 11 innings against the Yankees, but that counts as an Aug. 9 victory.
Over the last five full games, the Tigers have scored six runs.
The Tigers led the NY-Penn in hitting the majority of the season, but they've plummeted to seventh in the 14-team league with a .246 average. On Aug. 12, Oneonta had a league-best .259 average.
With 12 games remaining, Oneonta (33-30) is 3 1/2 games behind Stedler Division-leading Lowell (37-27) and trails Staten Island by the same number for the wild-card spot. Oneonta begins a nine-game homestand at 7:05 tonight, when it hosts Brooklyn in the opener of a three-game series at Damaschke Field.
If Lowell and Staten Island each play .500-ball for the remainder of the season, the Tigers would need 10 victories over their final 12 games to secure a playoff spot.
The Yankees scored Wednesday in the first inning against tough-luck loser Clemente Mendoza.
Jimmy Paredes drew a leadoff walk. After Hector Rabago flew out to left, Paredes stole second and scored on DeAngelo Mack's single to center.
Mendoza (4-4) then shut Staten Island down, allowing three hits over the next six innings. He struck out five and walked one to lower his ERA to 2.84.
Yankees starter Benjamin Watkins was even better. He retired the first 12 O-Tigers before Espinoza's single in the fifth. Watkins (4-0) struck out one and walked none over five innings.
Dan Miller threw the next two innings, allowing a one-out walk to Rawley Bishop in the seventh. Miller struck out two.
Gavin Brooks and Ryan Flannery followed with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings to complete the one-hitter. Flannery earned his fourth save this season.
Beer update
O-Tigers General Manager Andrew Weber said late Wednesday night that the franchise will send an application to sell beer at Damaschke Field to the New York State Liquor Authority by the end of this week.
"I met with the attorney this morning," Weber said, "and we're hoping to have everything sent off to the liquor authority on Friday."
Weber identified the attorney as Sarah Campbell of Hinman, Howard and Kattell in Binghamton. Asked if Campbell had previously sent in an application for a beer license, Weber said: "She never sent anything." Weber directed further questions about the application process to Campbell, who could not be reached at her office Wednesday night.
"At this point, we would love it if something happened for the end of the season," said Weber, whose team opens its last homestand of 2009 tonight against Brooklyn.
After playing three games against Brooklyn, the Tigers host Hudson Valley from Sunday through Tuesday. Oneonta then closes its home schedule with three games against Lowell, from Sept. 2-3. The Tigers' last home series includes a Sept. 2 doubleheader against the Spinners.
Weber said he also spoke with NYSLA Director of Communications Bill Crowley on Wednesday.
"Our last home game is Sept. 3, not including the playoffs," Weber said. "Bill said it's a you-never-know' type of thing. Obviously, he couldn't guarantee anything for this season, ... but he assured us we would have something for next season."
Crowley could not be reached at his office Wednesday night.
Yankees 1, O-Tigers 0
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