July 25, 2007 — The Yankees used the long ball Tuesday night to overpower the Monarchs 15-11 in the opening game of the Raphael Jackson AA Baseball league finals.
Two home runs apiece by Mackeel Rogers and Leroy Simmonds Jr. propelled the Yankees to the slugfest victory and a one-game lead in the best three-of-five finals. But with both teams nursing a plethora of injuries as the season draws to a close, this series looks like it will come down to who has the highest threshold for pain. Many players on the field limped noticeably throughout the contest.
Batting first, the Monarchs burst out of the gates with four runs in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Kenny Milligan, a sacrifice fly by Conrad Prevost and a two-run throwing error by the Yankees’ catcher. The Yankees answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single off the bat of Simmonds and an RBI ground out by Eliezer Ramirez to trail 4-2 at the end of one inning.
The Monarchs extended their lead to four at 6-2, scoring two more runs on a sac fly by Milligan and a wild pitch. The Yankees answered with a three-run blast to left-center field off the bat of Rogers to trail 6-5 after two innings.
After a scoreless third, the Yankees took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run home run — high over the left-field fence off the bat of Simmonds — and an RBI single by Jose Morales to go up 8-6.
Carmelo Torres’ RBI single in the top of the fifth brought the Monarchs to within one at 8-7, but the Yankees erupted for five runs in the bottom of the inning to extend their lead to six at 13-7. They scored five runs on back-to-back home runs by Rogers and Simmonds, who blasted a two-run homer and a solo shot, respectively, a bases-loaded hit by pitch and a wild pitch.
Not ready to throw in the towel for the game, the Monarchs staged a rally in the top of the sixth to draw to within two at 13-11. They came up with four runs on a two-run single by Andre Poche, an RBI double by Milligan and an RBI single off the bat of Renee Rosado. That, however, proved to the last serious threat posted by the Monarchs.
The Yankees went on to score two more runs in the bottom of the eight to set the final margin of victory at 15-11.
The Yankees’ young lefty, Angel Cruz — who did not have his best stuff Tuesday night — hung around long enough to pick up the win, while Rosado took the loss for the Monarchs.
Roberto Soto pitched the final two and two-thirds innings to preserve the win for the Yankees.
Leading the Yankees offensively was Simmonds, who went 5 for 6 with two home runs and five RBIs; Rogers, 2 for 4 with two home runs and five RBIs; and Maynard, 2 for 4 with one RBI. For the Monarchs, Milligan went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Poche 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
