Note: Individual game box scores can be found linked on the scoreboard page, which is part of the “Statistics” drop-down menu.

Last night’s games:

Amsterdam 8 Albany 2

The Amsterdam Mohawks extended their lead in the East with an 8-2 win over the Albany Dutchmen on Thursday night. Albany fell to 15-17 with the loss. Amsterdam is now 26-8.

Amsterdam struck first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second. Jonathan Pryor hit an RBI groundout and Josh Gardiner hit a 2-RBI single to left field. The Mohawks added a run in the third on an Alex DeBellis RBI groundout. The lead was extended to 7-0 in the fifth, as the Mohawks scored three more. DeBellis hit a 2-RBI single to right field and Gardiner added another RBI single to left field.

Albany scored its only two runs of the game on a Demetrius Webb two-run home run in the top of the seventh. It was Webb’s first home run of the season. Amsterdam finished the scoring in the bottom of the inning. Thomas Kain grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Marcus Carson.

Connor Johnstone pitched very well for the home team. Johnstone, from Wake Forest, went seven innings and allowed just two runs (both earned) on five hits. He is now 3-1 on the season. Jose Hernandez allowed four runs (all earned in 2.2 innings in taking the loss for Albany.

Watertown 6 Elmira 2

With a little help from the Adirondack Trail Blazers, the Watertown Rams grabbed a share of first place in the West Division with a 6-2 victory over the Elmira Pioneers. Watertown is now tied with Newark with a 20-14 record and Elmira sits two games out with an 18-16 mark.

Dominic Lopez gave the Rams the lead in the bottom of the second inning with a home run to right field. It was Lopez’s second long ball of the year. The Rams added a run in the bottom of the fourth on a Drew Hercik sacrifice fly. The lead climbed to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth as Lopez delivered a 2-RBI double down the left field line.

Elmira finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh on a TJ Dixon RBI single. Zac Bellinger made it a 5-2 game in the eighth with an RBI triple to deep center field. Ben Wylly gave Watertown some insurance in the bottom of the eighth with a sacrifice fly.

Watertown starter Sean Rackoski had one of his best starts of the season. The Kansas product went seven innings and allowed just one run (earned). Rackoski also struck out five in his second win on the year. Elmira starter Logan Salow allowed one run in an inning-plus of work in taking the loss.

Adirondack 9 Newark 5 Game One

In game one of a modified doubleheader in Newark, the Adirondack Trail Blazers beat the Pilots, 9-5. The game was suspended on July 2 after two innings and Newark leading 2-1.

Newark scored two runs in the top of the first inning to grab an early lead. Tanner Giesel hit a sacrifice fly to score a run and Jack Gerstenamier scored on a wild pitch. Mark Williams cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second, scoring as teammate Alex Voitik was stealing second base. Gerstenmaier and Giesel were key for the offense again in the third. Gerstenmaier hit an RBI double and Giesel hit an RBI single to make it 4-1 Newark.

Adirondack used two four-run innings to pull away and win the game. The first such inning came in the fifth when Mike Carter hit a sacrifice fly, and Matt Burns, Justin Korenblatt, and Alex Lushkevich all hit RBI-singles. The second four-run inning came in the bottom of the eighth. Bryan McGuire hit an RBI groundout, Greg Wasikowski brought in two with a 2-RBI double, and Carter added an RBI single. Samm Wiggins hit an RBI single in the top of the eighth for Newark.

Andrew Tidwell allowed the four runs in the eighth to take the loss. Woody Bryson tossed an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief to pick up the victory.

Newark 8 Adirondack 3 Game Two

The script was flipped for game two as the Newark Pilots were able to salvage a split against the Adirondack Trail Blazers. With the win, the Pilots are now tied for first place in the PGCBL with the Watertown Rams.

Jack Gerstenmaier picked right up where he left off in game one, hitting an RBI single in the bottom of the first to give Newark a 1-0 lead. It was all zeros until the bottom of the sixth when the Pilots added four more runs. Tanner Giese and Samm Wiggins scored on an error, Dorian Hairston hit an RBI single, and Hairston scored on a balk. Adirondack got one back in the top of the seventh on a bases loaded walk.

In the eighth, Alex Simone and Mark Williams both hit RBI singles for Adirondack. Newark scored three runs in the bottom half to put the game out of reach. Tim Lewis hit an RBI double, Tommy Wagner hit an RBI single, and Gerstenmaier hit into an RBI fielder’s choice.

Franklin Miller allowed five runs (three earned) in five innings of work to take the loss for Adirondack. Cam Scalazo was yet another starting pitcher to go seven innings and allow fewer than three runs. Scalazo allowed one run on four hits in picking up his first win of the season.

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