July 13, 2014

Vets                       10

Black Sox             5

Paterson, NJ – All-Star John Spatola struck out eight in six hard fought innings to help the Riverside Vets win the first ever city of Paterson series by beating the Paterson Black Sox 10-5 on Sunday.

Joe Prenenski had a three hit game with two runs batted in and Justin Fernandez drove in two runs for the Vets, who won the season series.

"Oh yeah, we were having fun," said Joe. He had a double among his three hits. "We always have fun; we know what this offense is capable of doing."

John (7-1) had his worst start of the season allowing 8 walks which is a career high for a six inning game.  John walked the bases loaded in the first but worked out of the jam with only two runs scored.  John also had a similar second inning allowing two more runs and leaving the bases loaded. 

"That first inning's tough, but as a starting pitcher, you have to have the ability to turn the page," John said. "It's a nice feeling when you're able to go out there and keep your team in the game."

"Baseball is crazy," continued John. "The guys picked me up. It wasn't my best outing, that's for sure, but the guys swung the bats and picked me up and then Kevin came in and closed the game out."

The Vets took the lead in the game in the top of the third when they put together three straight hits to open the inning, including a two-run triple by Keith Banta to the right-field wall.  With a 5-4 lead and John settling in the Vets added a runs in the each inning except fifth and eighth.

"Having multiple hits in an inning becomes contagious. Everybody was feeding off everybody else," Keith said.

The Vets wearing their Carolina blue jerseys for the first time this season have locked up second place in the west division.

July 6, 2014

09’ers                    2

Vets                       3

Fernandez has big hit in 7th, lifts Vets to win      

Paterson, NJ – As Chris Belenski’s great start was almost wasted by sloppy play in the field and at the plate, the Vets one fan on the day under the tree at Larry Doby field let the Vets know how he felt with a shower of boos.

Then Justin Fernandez changed the sour mood with walk off triple to win the game.

Justin’s first career walk off hit with no out in the bottom of the seventh inning Sunday gave the Vets a 3-2 victory over the Rutgers 09er’s in the opener of a doubleheader.

"I was ready. I was taking some swings in the cage," said a smiling Justin. "I was ready for that at-bat."

After Chris’s masterful seven-inning outing resulted in only a 2-2 tie, Kevin Croucher lead off the bottom of the seventh with a hit by pitch before Justin hit a deep drive to center that scored Kevin and snapped the 09er’s three-game winning streak.

Justin also collected the first hit off 09er’s starting pitcher in the fifth and Chris gave up two unearned runs, struck out four and walked five while earning his second win.

"Sometimes, for me, Chris can get a little rattled. He didn't today," manager Aldo Sayegh said. "He really kept his poise. We didn't play really good behind him. He kept his poise and was a real mature starter today with great stuff."

Chris kept the Vets in it as he lowered his ERA to 0.93 in what's been a very good year.

Game 2

Vets                       12          

09’ers                    4

Prenenski has 3 hits in Vets’ rout of 09’ers

Paterson, NJ - Joe Prenenski says it's too early to declare that he is fully recovered from an early season slump. This game was certainly a step in the right direction.

Joe drove in two runs, John Spatola won his fourth straight start, and the Riverside Vets stretched their winning streak to three games with a 12-4 victory over the Rutgers 09’ers on Sunday afternoon.

"Every time when you have a bad day, you get frustrated and you keep going and you get frustrated," Joe said. "But if you take a little breather, you can go up there and still do your best."

The Vets (11-3) have won 9 of 10 to move 8 games over .500. They lead the Black Sox by 3 points for second place.

John (6-1) gave up two hits and one unearned run with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 innings.

The Vets went up 4-1 in the first on a Joe RBI single and Keith Banta’s RBI double. The Vets added 2 runs in each of the 4th through 7th innings. 

Notes:  Jose Deleon leads the team in stolen bases with 10.