Muckdogs split twinbill with Brooklyn

BATAVIA — A walk-off double by all-star catcher Juan Castillo got the Batavia Muckdogs off the schneid Thursday, as the host team won the nightcap of a doubleheader 2-1 over the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Batavia dropped the opener 3-1.

Since sharing the lead in the New York-Penn League’s Pinckney Division at 19-15 a little less than a month ago, Batavia (25-28) has won just six of its last 19 games, dropping 6 1/2 games out of first place.

 Batavia begins a three-game series with Stedler Division leader Vermont (26-27) at 7:05 tonight. It is the final post-game fireworks game of the season.

After the series with the Athletics’ affiliate, Castillo and five other Muckdogs hit the road for Lowell, Mass., home of the 2011 New York-Penn League All-Star game.

Two of Batavia’s three all-star pitchers took the mound in the doubleheader Thursday.

Todd McInnis started the second game, allowing just four hits over five innings. He gave up one run as leadoff batter Danny Muno scored on a Javier Rodriguez RBI single in the top of the third inning.

McInnis only struck out two batters, but drew seven groundouts, including a sharply turned 1-5-3 double play in the fourth.

“Even if the pitchers got behind in the count, I told them to keep going after them,” said Castillo, with the help of interpreter and relief pitcher Ricky Martinez. “Especially with two outs, and even if they make contact, it may be an out.”

Batavia took the lead early as Garrett Wittels opened the game with a leadoff double. He later scored on a error.

Wittels finished the nightcap 3-for-4 and a combined 5-for-7 Thursday.

The game stayed tied as the teams’ bullpens squared off. Batavia’s duo of Travis Miller and Danny Miranda combined for five strikeouts, no hits and one walk over the final three innings. The Cyclones (30-24) were held to just four hits.

“Pitching was outstanding today,” said manager Dann Bilardello. “I think we just need to be more aggressive offensively. It’s like we’re sitting back waiting for things to happen. Everybody knows we’re in a funk, so they get up there (to the plate), and are like ‘Don’t mess up.’ They’re just not aggressive enough.”

Brooklyn’s Jeremy Gould, who replaced starter Jeff Walters in the top of the sixth, collected four strikeouts himself before walking Roberto Reyes in the top of the eighth.

Gould then got his fifth “K,” striking out Jeremy Patton looking. Patton argued the call and was ejected from the game by umpire Ryan Additon.

During the next at-bat, Reyes stole second, then eventually scored on the Castillo double.

“I was excited to be in the position to bring a runner home, that somebody was on base,” said Castillo. “I wanted to bring in the winning run, so I just waited for a pitch and went for it.

“It’s a privilege. I know a lot of players would want to be in my spot,” said Castillo about making it to the All-Star game next Monday. “I’m really happy and excited to be part of it.”

Castillo is batting at a .341 average the past 10 games, .345 for the month of August — the best average on the team by more than 30 points.

The late-inning win helped erase the sting of the loss in the opener.

Although Batavia moved runners into scoring position in the bottom of the first three innings, the ’Dogs failed to score.

Brooklyn on the other hand capitalized, scoring twice in the third then adding an insurance run in the fifth.

The seven hits are the most given up this season by Maness, who suffered his first loss (0-1, 0.91 ERA). He went five innings, gave up three runs (two earned), struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.

Previously, the most the righty had allowed was six hits over six innings (to State College), but allowed only one run in that outing.

Batavia got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning as Ruiz and Patton laced together back-to-back doubles.

The Muckdogs had a chance to even the score in the seventh, with two on, but they were unable to convert. In Game 1, Batavia went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

The Cyclones’ Eduardo Aldama earned the win, and Jack Leathersich, whose father’s family are Churchville natives, picked up the save.

Leathersich, who came into the game with 11 strikeouts, one walk and no runs in five relief innings, was impressive in front of family who made the trip from the Rochester suburb. Over two frames, the lefty struck out five, gave up three hits, one run and one walk.

“I felt like my location was a little off, but I just used what was working and went at guys,” said Leathersich. “We just take it one pitch at a time, and when you win the majority of the pitches, you’re going to win games.”

Leathersich grew up in Beverly, Mass., approximately an hour north of Boston. He attended the University of Massachusetts and was drafted in the fifth round of the June draft by the N.Y. Mets.

“This is definitely different from college. Definitely a job now,” said Leathersich. “ But’s there’s nothing better than playing in New York and not playing for the Yankees.”