Sixteen Walks Doom Indians
Watertown defeats Rome 12-3

by Scott Montesano
Rome Indians Marketing Intern

(Watertown, NY) For the first time ever, the Rome Indians went up to Watertown and did not leave Jefferson County with a win.

Aided by 16 Indian walks, the Watertown Wizards (8-11) cruised to a 12-3 victory over Rome (6-8) Thursday night at the Alex. T. Duffy Fairgrounds.

The loss is Rome’s first in the ten games the franchise has played in Watertown since the Wizards entered the league in 2000.

In addition, the defeat abruptly ended a season-high four-game winning streak for the Indians, and spoiled a chance for Rome to reach the .500 mark.

One of the main reasons the Indians had gone on a winning streak, was superb pitching, especially from the starters. However, the strong pitching that had carried the team was not there on this night.

Four Indian pitchers combined to throw 16 walks. Entering the game, the pitching staff was allowing only around four walks per game.

Pat Dougherty, who started the Indians’ win streak with a strong outing June 21 in Mohawk Valley, struggled from the beginning.

After working out of trouble in the first, he could not last through the second. Dougherty gave up a single, then walked three straight before he was relieved by Matt Gunnesch, trailing 1-0.

Gunnesch, though, would fare no better. With the bases loaded, he allowed consecutive singles, then walked a batter, followed by another single and a sacrifice fly, which gave Watertown an early 6-0 lead. Gunnesch lasted two innings allowing five runs on four hits and five walks.

Sam Cone went four innings, walking eight and allowing three runs, before Mike Weckenman pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning.

The Indians did have opportunities to get back into the game. Trailing 6-0 in the third, Rome put a rally together.

Weckenman led off with a double, followed by a Damian Blakeley single to put runners at the corners. Andrew Buffington then made it 6-1 with an RBI single.

After Terron Acuff struck out and Matt Devins popped out to short, Jeremy O’Neill walked to load the bases.

However, with two outs and the bases loaded Watertown starter Jason Shone struck out Kevin Ryan to end the inning.

The Indians also left the bases loaded in the fifth, and in the end, finished the game with 10 men left on base.

Despite the defeat, there were some offensive bright spots.

Weckenman finished 3-4 with two doubles. In addition, Blakeley, who entered the gamewith only one hit this season, went 2-4. Meanwhile, Andrew Buffington also added two hits. Rome native Kevin Ryan had two RBIs.

The Indians are now 14-5 all-time against Watertown, including a 9-1 record at the Duffy Fairgrounds.

Rome returns to action Friday with a doubleheader at Plattsburgh starting at 3pm. The Indians then return home on Saturday for a 5pm doubleheader against Wayne County in a rematch of the 2001 NYCBL finals.

Box Scores

Game 1

Rome	001	010	100	-	3	11	1
Watertown>	063	030	00	-	12	9	1

WP: Jason Shone (3-1)
LP: Pat Dougherty (1-2)

2B: Rome - Mike Weckenman
       Watertown – Eric Meacham

Time: 3:06