by John Sullivan
Postgame interview with Jonathan Moya, who went 5 and a third with only 1 run given up on 3 hits and 6 strikeouts pic.twitter.com/zyBXvQsIFo
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 11, 2024
After dropping game 1 of the doubleheader to B1 Ghost, LIB Prime was poised to jump on B1’s starter, Jonathan Moya. LIB lead off batter, Frank Stella, did just that, as he ripped the first pitch he saw down the left field line for a double. Alex Catania and Dylan Babek then both worked walks to load the bases with no outs. Anthony Sanchez then came through with a single the other way to put LIB up 1-0. With the bases loaded, no outs, and 1 run already scored, it looked like a possibly disastrous inning for B1. But, luckily for them, Moya settled down in a big way and get two backwards K’s in a row, and a groundout to escape the jam and keep the score at 1-0.
Down 1-0, B1 reasoned in a big way in the bottom of the first. After a lead off groundout, Ben Bonadio worked a walk and Michael Scotto was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Nick Paluzzi then laid down a perfect bunt that was thrown into right field and allowed Bonadio to score. After two wild pitches in a row that Scotto and Paluzzi scored on, B1 led 3-1.
In the top of the second, Moya seemed to be completely settled in. He walked the lead off batter, but then got a strikeout, and two pop outs for a scoreless inning. Bryce Howes, the pitcher for LIB, also tossed a scoreless inning in the bottom of the second, despite a lead off single from Nick Ippoliti. In the third, both pitchers continued to roll, as Moya threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout, groundout, and pickoff at second base. Howes followed this up by working around two walks by getting a groundout and two popouts. B1 was up 3-1 heading into the fourth inning.
Mid 5: Jonathan Moya puts up his fourth consecutive scoreless inning. B1 up 6-1 pic.twitter.com/kZiU7IhVhH
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 10, 2024
In the top of the fourth, Moya once again put up a quick scoreless inning. He got the lead off batter to fly out and after giving up a single to Andrew Fregara, Moya got a K and induced another fly out for outs 2 and 3. In the bottom of the fourth, Russel Schwartz led off with a single and advanced to third on a wild pickoff attempt. Tyghe Rowland then brought Schwartz home with a hard hit single into left field to make it 4-1. Nick Ippoliti then worked a walk and he and Rowland advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. After the wild pitch, Rowland came in to score on a passed ball and Ippoliti moved up to third. With Ippoliti on third, Ryan Jacobs laid down a perfectly executed squeeze bunt to score Ippoliti and make it 6-1 heading into the fifth inning.
In the fifth, Moya continued to dominate, tossing a scoreless inning with a strikeout, pop out, and groundout. In the bottom of the fifth, B1 added on another run after Michael Scotto singled and Cole Zuckerman doubled to drive Scotto in. B1 led 7-1 with just three outs to go.
Final: Nick Paluzzi closes it down for B1 and they win it 7-1 pic.twitter.com/c7FroUsEZR
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 11, 2024
Moya started off the sixth on the mound, but was pulled after he hit the lead off batter to pop out. Moya finished his day with 5 ⅓ innings, 1 run given up, 3 hits given up, and 6 strikeouts. It’s safe to say that Moya was completely dominant on the mound Wednesday evening. Nick Paluzzi came in relief for Moya and got the job done by inducing a fly out and soft line out to secure the 7-1 win and doubleheader sweep for B1 Ghost over LIB Prime.
After the game, we spoke with Jonathan Moya about his incredible start. Moya mentioned that his goal was to just put his team in a good spot and that he relied heavily on his slider to get outs. That strategy definitely worked for him, it was a great night for both Jonathan Moya and B1 Ghost.
