Auburn, NY — The Williamsport Crosscutters offense awoke against the Auburn Doubledays Monday night, but the story belonged to starting pitcher, Adonis Medina, as he nearly tossed a no-hitter in the Cutters first road win of 2016.
Media was brilliant, getting weak contact after weak contact working 8.1 hit-less innings against Auburn. The right-hander was able to mix his fastball and off-speed pitches well, keeping the Doubledays batters off balance.
Adonis Medina retired the side in order in each of the first three innings, picking up three strikeouts and five ground ball outs in the process.
Auburn got their first base-runner of the night in the bottom of the 4th inning on an Arquimedez Gamboa fielding error allowing Blake Perkins to reach first. Medina reacted by getting the next three batters to fly out, stranding Perkins at first base.
Williamsport struck for the game’s first two runs in the top of the 5th against Auburn starter Weston Davis. The first run coming on a double by Luke Maglich that advanced Arquimedez Gamboa to the plate making it 1-0. On the play, Maglich reached third base on a throwing error by right fielder Nick Banks.
Maglich was then plated by an RBI single through the right side by Gregori Rivero to give the Cutters a 2-0 lead in support of Adonis Medina.
In the 5th, Medina hit Tres Barrera with a pitch, but again, he would respond positively by inducing an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. Helping to keep his pitch count low through five innings of work.
After a pitching change brought in Francys Peguero to start the 6th inning, Cutters center fielder David Martinelli connected on his first professional home run that cleared the wall in right-center to extend the Cutters lead to 3-0. For Martinelli, it was his first professional RBI.
With a three-run lead, Medina cruised through the 6th inning, getting Auburn in order on a pop out and a pair of ground ball outs.
The Cutters bats would remain hot in the top of the 7th inning, as catcher Gregori Rivero launched his first home run of the season over the wall in right-center, a two-run shot, that scored Luke Maglich who had drawn a two-out walk prior to Rivero stepping up to the plate. The homer extended the lead to 5-0.
Medina worked around a hit batter in the 7th inning and tossed a clean 8th inning giving him keeping his no-hit bid intact through 8 innings of work.
The no-hit bid would last three batters into the 9th inning when, after a one-out walk to Blake Perkins, Daniel Johnson grounded a base hit through the right side to end Medina’s chance at a no-hitter and his night. On the play, Perkins advanced to 3rd base giving the Doubledays runners on the corners with one out.
Jeff Singer entered the ball game to relieve Medina and try to keep the shutout intact. With Sheldon Neuse at the plate, Johnson took second base on a defensive indifference, putting two runners in scoring position with still one out.
Singer, as he has done all season, retired each of the two batters he faced, striking out Neuse and getting Ryan Ripken to ground out to second base to close out the win.
The win for the Cutters was their first road win of 2016, improving their record on the road to 1-6, ending the longest losing road losing streak to start a season for Williamsport since 2005. For Medina, the win improves his record to 2-0 while keeping his ERA untouched.
Williamsport heads to Tri-City for a three-game series to conclude this six-game road trip. Ranger Suarez is scheduled to start as he makes his third start of 2016 for the Williamsport Crosscutters. At this time, Tri-City has not yet announced their starter for tomorrow’s game. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Cutter Carvings – The Cutters return home on July 1st as they take on the Batavia Muckdogs at BB&T Ballpark…The Crosscutters bullpen has only allowed 1 earned run over their last 29.0 innings of work…Adonis Medina has not allowed a run in 21 innings of work through his first three starts…
