The weather and Glens Falls pitchers have been plaguing the Saratoga Phillies of late.
Rain washed away most of last week’s scheduled New York Collegiate Baseball League games for Saratoga. And when the weather allowed the Phillies to play, they have had to deal with the East Division-leading Golden Eagles, losing two of their three games over a three-day span.
Saratoga played a doubleheader at Glens Falls Sunday, with the teams splitting the two games. The Golden Eagles won the first game 5-2, while the Phillies took the nightcap 3-2.
In the opener, Glens Falls (11-4) scored single runs in the second and third innings before breaking the game open with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Kevin Berry, Anthony Giansanti and Rodarrick Jones all belted RBI doubles in the fifth inning.
Saratoga (6-10) scored a run in the sixth inning and another in the top of the seventh on Adam Dimino’s RBI double, but that was as close as the Phillies got.
The second game started much better for Saratoga. Dimino opened the scoring in the top of the first when he walked, moved to third on Miles Silverstein’s single and scored on a double steal for a 1-0 lead.
Luke Padgett launched a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning to give the Phillies a two-run advantage. Later in the inning, Silverstein singled in Sean Allaire with the bases loaded to make the score 3-0.
Berry struck for a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning to get Glens Falls close, but reliever Brad Jessering worked out of a seventh inning jam to preserve the victory for Saratoga.
The two teams met again Tuesday at East Side Recreation Field in Saratoga Springs, with Glens Falls prevailing 4-2.
The Golden Eagles took a 2-0 lead before the Phillies got on the scoreboard with JoJo Sharrar’s RBI single in the second inning. That was the last run Saratoga scored off Glens Falls starting pitcher Willie Beard, who scattered six hits in his seven innings of work.
The Golden Eagles scored two more runs off Saratoga starter Zach Hartman before the Ballston Spa High School graduate was pulled in the top of the fifth inning. Relievers Jeff Oxley and Paul Twining kept Glens Falls off the scoreboard the rest of the game.
Mike Augustine added a bases-loaded single for Saratoga, which owns a 4-2 record against Glens Falls this season.
The Phillies looked to get back on track Wednesday when they hosted Amsterdam in the first game of a home-and-home series. Saratoga visits Amsterdam Thursday before meeting Glens Falls for the seventh time this season Friday at East Side Rec. Amsterdam returns to Saratoga for games Saturday and Sunday.`