by Ben Diamond
Game 1:
Game Over! A Cameron Mastrelli RBI single wins the game for the Greendogs 4-3 in 7. pic.twitter.com/7cczBDkqIr
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 24, 2021
Early in game one, it seemed as though the Greendogs would win this game without question. But the inability to tack on more insurance runs allowed the Thunder to stay in the game and make things interesting.
Early in the game, the Greendogs were able to score a run on an E4, and a defensive miscommunication allowed them to get an early 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. They would then score another run an inning later on a pickoff attempt that got an out but the runner was able to score from third. In both innings where the Greendogs scored, they left runners on base, runs that would have made the game much easier for them, as the Thunder would claw back getting runs on a mishandled pitch in the 5th inning. Then in the 6th after a pitching change a ground out by Ryan Isola would make the Thunder deficit one, before an infield single by Adam Rosenberg would tie the game at 3. The game would go to extra innings as relief pitcher Giancarlo Belgiorno would strand the bases loaded. But, in the end a Cameron Mastrelli would hit a walkoff RBI single for the Greendogs giving them the hard fought 4-3 victory.
Not only was Cameron Mastrelli responsible for scoring the winning run, he was also the hottest hitter at the dish. Mastrelli went 3-for-4 in game one with a double, a triple, and the game winning RBI single. He was only a home run off of the cycle. He also came in in relief of starter Daniel Hilton going two innings, and striking out two, but he also allowed two runs which were charged to the starter Hilton. Hilton had a fantastic day on the mound before he started to tire in the 4th and 5th innings. His final line was 5.0IP, 6H, 2K, 1BB, 3ER. He was also 2-for-3 with two singles at the plate. Other notable hitters on the Greendogs were Jake Mora, who was 1-for-3 with a single, and Chris Dinota who was 1-for-2 with a single, an RBI and he was intentionally walked.
On the Thunder’s side, starter Robbie Metzger ran into a lot of bad luck with poor fielding behind him making only one of the three runs earned. His final line was 5.1IP, 6H, 3R, 1ER, 1K, and 1BB. He was relieved by Giancarlo Belgiorno who threw 1.2IP with 3K, 1BB, 2H, 1ER. He is credited with the loss. A couple of notable hitters for the Thunder were Adam Rosenberg who went 1-for-2 with a single and an RBI, and Nick Kamarnicki who went 2-2 with two singles.
Game 2:
Post game interview with Farmingdale Greendogs coach: pic.twitter.com/MBCjEQRQUW
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 24, 2021
Game 2 was different from game 1. Game two was a pitchers’ duel from start to finish.
Once again teams failed to score with runners in scoring position as Thunder starter Daniel Jaworski was able to escape from a bases loaded jam. The scoreless tie was finally broken in the 4th inning when Nicholas Kost of the Farmingdale Greendogs hit a single up the middle to put the Greendogs up 1-0. The only other run to score in the game was by Cameron Mastrelli was scored on an E3 in the 6th inning which would have ended the inning had there been no error. That would help solidify the Greendogs 2-0 victory and doubleheader sweep over the Thunder.
Pitching was at a premium in this game. For the Greendogs, Cameron Mastrelli came back to start game two after coming in in relief in game one. His final line was, 3.0IP, 3K, 1BB, 2H. He was relieved by Brendan LoFaro who also went 3 innings with 2K, and 2BB. For the Thunder, Daniel Jaworski went 5.0IP, 4H, 3K, 2BB, 1ER, before being relieved by Giancarlo Belgiorno who also came into game two after pitching in game one, going 1.0IP, 2BB, 1H, 1ER.
Notable hitters from this game include Greendogs Nicholas Kost who went 1-for-1 with a walk and an RBI single. Jaden Pesante went 1-for-2 for the Greendogs with a single and Cameron Mastrelli also went 1-for-2 with a single. For the Thunder, Ryan Isola went 1-for-3 with a single, and Nick Kamarnicki went 1-for-2 with a single. Those were the only two hits Greendogs pitching allowed in game two.
