Mohawks’ pitching falters early, loses to Oneonta

AMSTERDAM — The Amsterdam Mohawks surrendered four runs in the first inning and never recovered, falling to the Oneonta Outlaws on Tuesday night at Shuttleworth Park, 9-1.

Connor Manous got the start for Amsterdam but the Outlaws jumped on him early. Leadoff hitter Brandon Orndoff got to second base on a wild ball four and was singled in by the next batter in Kyle Ruedisili to give Oneonta a 1-0 lead early. Things got much worse later in the opening frame as first baseman Anthony Eaton lifted a three-run home run to left field, leaving Amsterdam with a four-run deficit before the team even got to the plate for the first time.

The hitting did not come through, either. Oneonta starter Mark Anderson dominated the Mohawk order in the first parts of the game, tossing three no-hit innings before giving way to Tom Kretzler, who went four shutout innings in relief, and later on Zack Bowers. Those three shut down the Amsterdam hitters, allowing just five hits and the lone run coming on a home run from Shane Muntz in the ninth inning.

“Hitting, we didn’t do a very good job. It wasn’t like it was the greatest stuff, but it doesn’t have to be stuff. The ability to throw a strike is the greatest thing a pitcher can have,” Mohawks manager Keith Griffin said of Oneonta’s pitching.

After Oneonta had taken a 5-0 lead, the Mohawks had a bases loaded opportunity in the fourth inning to try to cut into the deficit and get back into the game, but a Cole Barr groundout ended the threat and kept Amsterdam down by that wide margin.

Key plays in the field kept the Oneonta lead where it was as well. In the fifth inning, Ruedisili made a shoestring catch in right field to steal a hit from Mike Antico. In the sixth inning, centerfielder Parker Hendershot stole what would have been a two-run home run from Chris Lanzilli that ended that frame and kept the score where it was.

“The centerfielder was phenomenal. What a tremendous play that was, it was awesome,” Griffin said.

The Outlaws tacked on a run in the top of the sixth and then three more in the ninth to finish off their nine runs on the night.

Griffin summed up his team’s night, “They played better than we did, they deserved to win. Hopefully we’ll be up to the challenge tomorrow and the next time we play them.”

The Outlaws improve to 8-8 on the year, and the Mohawks are now 9-9. They both play in an extremely tight East Division, that sees the Albany Dutchmen, Glens Falls Dragons and Saugerties Stallions all tied for first place, and Amsterdam and Oneonta trailing by a half game.

“Everybody is much better, and we’re not as good. Therefore, the playing field is a little bit more even. I think the entire league is a little bit better,” Griffin said.

The Mohawks will play again on Wednesday, traveling to take on the Adirondack Trail Blazers. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.