ALBANY N.Y. – In their first contest following the All-Star break, the Albany Dutchmen (22-14) fell to the Amsterdam Mohawks (28-8) by a final score of 8-6.
After Albany had taken a 3-0 lead to start the game and saw their lead cut to 2-1 in the second inning, Amsterdam delivered a blow that the Dutchmen would not recover from for the rest of the game. John Valente (St. John’s) started off the inning with a single off of Thomas Spinelli (Ole Miss). Spinelli proceeded to lose long battles to both Jake Mueller (Wake Forest) and Eric Rivera (Florida Atlantic), walking both of them on full count pitches. After Liam Wilson (Canisius) hit an RBI single to make the score 3-2, Matt Gorski (Indiana) delivered a three run triple to give the Mohawks a lead they would never surrender. Will Holland (Auburn) put an exclamation point on the six run inning with a two run homer to left field. Spinelli retired the next three batters in order but the damage was done.
The Dutchmen had jumped all over starting pitcher Mathieu Gauthier (North Carolina State) in the first inning. After Brad Gneiting (Rice) and Nick Estrella (Azusa Pacific) started off the game with singles and Trace Tyre (Ole Miss) was hit by a pitch, Chase Allen (Limestone) hit a grounder the shortstop Holland that looked like it would be an easy double play. In Holland’s haste to turn the double play, he threw the ball into right field which allowed two runs to score. The other tally of the inning for Albany was recorded on a sacrifice fly to center field by Griffen Herrera (Azusa Pacific).
Albany drew one run closer, cutting the deficit to 7-4 in the fourth inning using an RBI single by Tyre with the bases loaded. The bases remained loaded for Allen, who flew out to left field to end the threat for the Dutchmen.
Amsterdam got the run back in their very next trip to the plate. Gorski reached base and ended up scoring on a wild pitch by Jeff Lonnecker (Trinity) to make the score 8-4.
Brooks Knapek (UMass) entered the game for the Mohawks in the seventh inning in place of Gauthier. Justin Decker (Dominican) immediately greeted him with a single, followed by a majestic home run by Brandt Holland (North Alabama) to make the score 8-6 and get the Dutchmen back into the game. Knapek retired the next three batters of the inning.
The Mohawks loaded the bases in the ninth inning with two outs, but were unable to add insurance runs as Mac Welsh (Louisville) got Will Holland to ground out to third to end the inning.
Albany had two at bats with the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning after Brandt Holland hit a one out single off of Brandon Reitz (Florida State). They were unable to cash in as Allen flew out to right and Justin Childers (Ohio Dominican) struck out.
The Dutchmen received another short outing from Spinelli, as he lasted only three innings, giving up the seven runs and dropping to 0-3 on the season.
Albany hits the road Thursday for a critical double header against Mohawk Valley, who came into today three games ahead of the Dutchmen for second place in the East Division. The Dutchmen are trying to break into the top two in the east, as the top two teams in each division will host the first round of the PGCBL playoffs.
Albany returns home on Friday for bonus baseball against the Utica Blue Sox before a day off on Saturday. Game one of the doubleheader begins at 3:00 p.m. with a second game to follow. The game will be Albany Pump Station night at the ballpark.
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