STATEN ISLAND, NY -Pitching and defense was on display in Staten Island's 4-0 shutout over Vermont Lake in an early matinee before 3,114 at RCBP Monday.
Four Baby Bombers combined for a three hit shutout to sweep the three-game set and extend the ballclub's winning streak to five straight. Paul Patterson, Juan Velazquez, Justin Keadle and Nick Peterson shutdown the Monsters in the victory.
After being used out of the bullpen the first month, Patterson was superb in his first start tossing three scoreless frames allowing just one hit.
"It was real exciting," Patterson said. "I had a few butterflies before the game but I felt really comfortable out there and I was thankful for the opportunity to get the start and really glad I was able to take advantage of it. It was great. I look forward to doing it again."
While he got through unblemished, his Staten Island teammates supplied all the offense they would need in the first.
Second baseman Wilmer Pino led off with a walk and stole second. After Brian Aragon flew out, shortstop Mitchell Hilligoss drove him in with a sharp single to center. The Baby Bombers weren't done. With two outs, left fielder James Cooper tripled in Hilligoss. First baseman Kevin Smith followed with a bloop RBI single to left making it a 3-0 lead.
"We were struggling for awhile," said Cooper, who finished the day 2-for-3 to raise his average over .300 and also made a nice diving catch to end an inning.
"I'm just trying to help the team get wins anyway we can...we kind of just told each other, 'Let's go out and just play for each other- give it all we have each and everyday. Whether it's diving plays, moving the runner over. Whatever it is. Whatever we have to do to help the team win each and everyday because we've been struggling for runs and stuff. We got to have big defensive plays.'"
"Real good plays. Smitty [Kevin Smith] made a great play. DeLa made a good play at the beginning of the game. Our defense has been really the solid point besides our pitching," added Hilligoss.
After Patterson went the first three, Plainfield New Jersey product Velazquez pitched two strong innings to pickup his first win of the season. He allowed only two baserunners and struckout two before giving way to setup man Keadle. Keadle was even better, retiring all six batters he faced and fanning two.
Also playing sparkling D was center fielder Wilkins DeLaRosa, who robbed two Monsters of sure hits with running catches.
"I'm just really I was able to help out the team win. Whether it's making the two catches or whatever it was, I'm really happy because I was able to do that because I didn't get any hits," DeLaRosa pointed out. "I'm just really happy we won."
Staten Island got an insurance run in the seventh when Hilligoss drove in his second run of the day with another single to score Aragon, who singled and reached second on an error.
"I had a couple of hits. Hopefully get going a little bit better today. We're playing good. So that's all that matters," Hilligoss said.
Peterson entered the game in the eighth and ran into a little trouble by walking two Monsters. But with two outs, he got some help from catcher Francisco Cervelli to escape. Cervelli threw out Jeremy Goldschmeding, who tried to advance to second on a pitch in the dirt.
"Great job [Hilligoss and Pino]. They talk loud and I don't make this play unless these guys talk loud. It's a pretty good team and I made this play," he said.
Peterson pitched around a one out single in the ninth, freezing Cristian Ogando to end it.
Notes: Immediately following the game, players signed autographs outside the dugout. Staten Island (11-10) finished the homestand 5-0 and will now embark on a seven day six-game road trip with stops at Oneonta and State College before returning home to St. George to host Williamsport next Tuesday.
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