Over 1,800 fans were on hand at Dwyer Stadium to experience the first playoff win at home since 2008.
For the first time in the team’s 80 year history, the field at Dwyer Stadium was named “Field of the Year” by Ben Hayes, President of the New York-Penn League, who was on hand for the game. Head Groundskeeper Cooper Thomson and Director of Operations, Joe Mogavero were honored before the game and both tossed out the first pitch.
The Batavia Muckdogs started the scoring early, in the first inning Albert Guaimaro hit a single that brought home Dalvy Rosario to make it 1-0.
In the 6th inning Nic Ready knocked out a homerun to bring two runs home and give the Muckdogs a 3-0 lead.
Later, Troy Johnson hit a nice single and brought home J.D. Orr to make it 4-0.
In the top of the 8th, Lowell made it 4-1, but could not muster up anymore hits.
The final was 4-1, the Muckdogs take game one of their best of three playoff series with Lowell.
Press release
BATAVIA – It was a banner night for the Batavia Muckdogs, on and “on” the field.The Muckdogs won game one of the New York-Penn League playoffs with a 4-1 victory over the Lowell Spinners. The two teams play in Lowell Thursday.In the other series, Hudson Valley defeated Brooklyn, 5-4.Before the game, New York-Penn League President Ben Hayes presented Batavia Muckdogs groundkeeper Cooper Thomson with the New York-Penn League Turf Manager of the Year and the coveted Field of the Year award.Off the field, the Muckdogs had a crowd of 1,872, the fifth largest of the season at Dwyer for the playoff win.Lefty Easton Lucas, a 2019 Miami Marlins 14th round draft pick out of Pepperdine got the start and went three innings with shutout baseball allowing two hits and striking out four without a walk.Lucas left the game with a 1-0 lead and Eli Villalobos earned the win, throwing 3.2 innings of perfect baseball with five strikeouts, no runs, no hits, no walks. Villalobos is a 14th round Marlins draft pick out of Long Beach State.Brock Love earned the hold by thawing 1.1 innings with three strikeouts and one hit. Evan Brabrand, as he has all season for Batavia, tossed the ninth to get the save.At the plate, Nic Ready blasted a two-run home run and had two hits. J.D. Orr had a hit and a run, Troy Johnston had a RBI single and scored plus stole a base, Albert Guairmaro had two hits and a RBI and Milton Smith II had a single and stole a base.Batavia shortstop Dalvy Rosario played outstanding defense and had two hits, a run and stole a base.