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LUGNUTS ON A ROLL
August 1, 2011 —
The team faced the Rochester Angels of Rochester on Sunday afternoon and not only did the team win 14-0, but it also inched 1-game closer to the 1st place Dodgers when they were beaten by the Giants 3-2. It was the third game in a row in which the Nuts got out in front early by a score of 6-0. The month of July has been kind to the Lugnuts as they went 4-1 and could've made it a perfect 5-0 had it not been for a blown lead late against their heated rivals, the Padres.
This was basically a day where the boys just had things clicking. Good defense (2 E's when the game was already in hand), better hitting (15 hits and 8 men had at least one hit) & great pitching. Three Lugnut hurlers combined in the shutout, which was also the second straight shutout against the Angels this year and completes the season sweep. Jim Pinkert went 5 strong and earned the win in this one as the team moves to 7-5 and are now just 2 games back of the Dodgers with just four left in the season.
With the playoffs drawing near and the team hitting on all cylinders, the guys are looking to make a long run in this year's postseason. Jay Thomas (.543), Jim Varney (.533), Rob Adamson (.429 HR), Andrew Rice (.372) & second baseman Todd Bezenah (.364) are pacing the Nuts offense while the 3-headed monster of Darryl Natale (3 W, 41 K's, 3.32 ERA), Zynon Putney (2 W, 30 K's, 2.80 ERA) & left hander Jim Pinkert (2 W, 1 S, 2.33 ERA) are the backbone of this year's club. Lost in all of these numbers is the solid year that Tim Booher is having behind the dish. Besides handling all of the pitchers (and their egos) he has been a very solid catcher and does all of the little things that Varney has asked him to do both with the bat and also as a vocal leader.
The team next plays the Storm on Wednesday at Grace & Truth and there's no reason to think that the boys will look ahead to Sunday's tilt with the Red Stox without taking care of business on Wednesday first!
Go NUTS!
LUGNUTS LET ONE SLIP AWAY, THEN FOLLOW WITH SOLID WIN
July 28, 2011 —
The Nuts played the Padres last Sunday and got ahead by six early only to let it slip away late. The Padres rode the arm of veteran left-hander Marc Manioci and the bat of new third baseman Jim Grape to come from behind and win the game 10-9. The game was marred with bad errors, runners left in scoring position and ultimately terrible umpiring. The Nuts however have their selves to blame and must regroup for the stretch run ahead.
The boys next played the Rockies this past Sunday and again led by six early but hung on and won convincingly 7-2. The Lugnuts beat their rivals with good pitching and solid defense which has been the team's formula for success all season. The Rockies limited the Nuts attack with sinkerballer Evan Bickle and outside of Jim Varney & Jay Thomas (3 hits apiece) the Rockies kept the game close. The Natale/Putney pitching combo was just too much for Chuck Healey and his ballclub in this contest and the Nuts now improve to 6-5 on the year which is just percentage points out of second place in the American division. Up next for the club is the Angels this Sunday at 1:30 in Spencerport. The Nuts beat the Angels early in the season 11-0 and look for the series sweep and possibly move closer to earning a playoff spot with just a few weeks remaining.
NUTS POWER PAST TIGERS
July 10, 2011 —
The Lugnuts may have used their sticks to beat the Tigers on Sunday in Penfield, but if it weren't for solid defense and shut-it-down pitching this one would've got ugly. The Nuts won 19-1 in a game where Andrew Rice (5 for 5) and Jay Thomas (3 doubles) were the hitting stars & Regy Root added a late homer. The defense played stellar, giving up only a first inning error that allowed a runner to score. After losing to the Expos and weilding 9 errors a few weeks back, the Lugnuts have made an effort to shore up their D and pitchers are now getting wins as a result. Hurler Jim Pinkert was masterful in mixing pitches in this game giving up just one run and issuing no walks. Zynon Putney relieved in the 6th and tossed two scoreless innings of his own. The team has now recorded only 4 errors in the 3 games since the Expo "dibacle" and have won all three contests. The guys have outscored their opponents 34-4 during this stretch and next face Dom & Dennis Tubolino's Padres for a chance to lock down that 2nd seed in the American division. With just two games seperating the front running Dodgers and the Lugnuts, manager Jim Varney clearly doesn't see second place as an option. Gametime for Sunday's tilt is at 9 A.M.
TEAM WINS IT ON LAST AT BAT
July 7, 2011 —
The Lugnuts played the Mets at U of R Thursday night and it was every bit as good as billed. The Lugnuts were eliminated by Mike Delly and the Mets in last year's playoffs when they were still known as the Phillies, so the guys were all pumped for this one. Veteran right-hander Darryl Natale took the mound and after surrendering a couple of early inning runs, really settled down and handled a very dangerous hitting team. He went the distance, giving up only 3 hits while striking out 6 but it was his defense and some aggressive baserunning that was instrumental in earning him the victory. The Lugnuts trailed 3-2 going into the last inning when substitute player Casey Beiley reached base and then scored on a head's up play where he beat a late throw home after an infield single by Jim Varney. Varney would later score the winning run on a wild throw and the team earned their second win in a row in dramatic fashion. A win like that can propel a team and the club now sits just two games back of the Dodgers in the American division. Todd "Bez" Bezenah drove in two runs and collected a pair of hits for the Lugnuts.
BIG "Z" DOMINATES, NUTS WIN 11-0
June 26, 2011 —
The Lugnuts squared off against the Angels this past Sunday at University of Rochester and finally played an all around solid game. Zynon Putney once again took the hill for the Nuts and he was dominant from the start. The Nuts got outstanding performances again from Jay Thomas (2 for 3), Rob Adamson (2 2B's) and Willie Ramos (3 for 3, 4 RBI's) but Big Z was the story here as he posted his 1st shutout of the season and the guys won convincingly 11-0. The big right-hander struck out six, walked one and didn't give up a hit until the final frame as the Angels Steve C. scorched a liner that just got through the infield and a diving Jim Varney. The team improves to 3-4 on the year but still trail the Dodgers by 2.5 games. The guys get the week off for the 4th of July and hit the field next against the Mets on Thursday July 7th, at U of R.
EXPOS BEAT LUGNUTS 10-8
June 20, 2011 —
The Expos were given plenty of opportunities to get runs early and often and come away with a 10-8 victory over a Lugnut team that is currently searching for answers. It was a typical Sunday afternoon at Fairport High Acres and another typical strong outing by starter Zynon Putney on Father's Day. Jim Varney, Rob Adamson & Andrew Rice each collected a pair of hits and Alan Ripley extended his hit streak, but it was a flurry of poor defensive plays that became the theme in this matchup as the Lugnuts lose the game and drop to 2-4. They now sit 3.5 games back of the Dodgers for first place in the National League standings. The Nuts need a win against the Angels on Sunday at U of R to stay alive in the playoff hunt with 10 games remaining. One thing is for certain, the team's defense has to improve or this team is going to playing golf and not baseball this coming August.
LUGNUTS END LOSING STREAK, BEAT DOGS 9-4
June 15, 2011 —
The Lugnuts played their longtime nemesis at U of R on a sunny Wednesday night in Rochester. The Bulldogs had won the previous five meetings between the two teams and struck first when Jim Grassley scored after doubling to lead off the game. The Lugnuts scored three of their own in the bottom half of the first when Jay Thomas & Regy Root hit back-to-back RBI singles and Darryl Natale hit an RBI double to left. The Dogs would tie it up in the 4th making the score 3-3, but the Nuts poured it on after that, getting four runs in the 5th and two more in the 6th. Final score Lugnuts 9 and the Bulldogs 4. Darryl went the distance in this one, striking out three and Jay collected three hits for the Lugnuts. Alan Ripley and Jim Varney each added a pair. The team faces the Expos next on Sunday at 1pm at FHA.
LUGNUTS LOSE 3rd STRAIGHT
June 13, 2011 —
The Dodgers beat the Nuts 8-4 on Sunday at FHA and move to 5-0 overall. Jim Varney's club falls to 1-3 after the two-game sweep. The Dodgers led early and held on late for the victory. Steve Ruffino gets the win and Zynon Putney gets the loss despite nine strong innings pitched. Bad defense, bad baserunning & lack of hitting all contributed in this one. The Lugnuts next play the Bulldogs on Wednesday at gorgeous U of R and will look to get things back on track. The players all still believe that this is their year to finally win that elusive championship.
DODGERS BEAT LUGNUTS IN A THRILLER
June 5, 2011 —
The 'Nuts took on the Dodgers Sunday in Fairport on a beautiful summer day. The Dodgers, managed by Casey Bieley, came into the game with a perfect 3-0 record and one of the better trio of arms in the league in Steve Ruffino, Anthony Privitiera and their ace Mike Overstreet, who got the start in this one. Jim Varney countered with Jim Pinkert and had Darryl Natale ready on just three days rest.
The Dodgers got ahead early on a Ruffino sac fly and led 1-0 after one. They scored again in the second on a run scoring single by Jay M. to lead by two after two innings of play. The Lugnuts would eventually get one across in the top of the 4th as Natale singled home Regy Root to get within one. The ‘Nuts scored again in the 5th when Varney (3 for 5) came home after a Dodger error to tie the game at 2-2. Kevin hit a 3-run homer to dead center in the bottom of the 6th to take back the lead for the Dodgers. The Lugnuts answered with 3 of their own in the 7th on a bases loaded double by Root (2 for 4) and an RBI groundout by Rob Adamson to knot the score at 5. That would be their last good chance as Privitiera came in and ended the threat in the 7th and blanked Varney’s club in the 8th & 9th frames.
In the bottom of the 9th, a one-out walk to Kevin by Natale and a failed pickoff attempt put the Dodgers in scoring position with a chance to win the game. Jason C. delivered with a two-out single to left and Bieley’s ballclub became the NABA’s first team to earn 4 wins. Pinkert pitched well & newcomber Jay Thomas (3 for 4, BB) played great but the ‘Nuts dropped to 1-2 with a chance to get revenge against the Dodgers this coming Sunday at Fairport High Acres. It will be the team's home opener after three straight road games.
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