[tm1681]

DUFFY GRABS SIX HITS & RBI EACH AT EAGLE
SYRACUSE LEADOFF MAN HAS GAME OF THE SEASON IN SIXTEEN-RUN VICTORY

ELMIRA, N.Y. (Aug. 12, 1876) - Five-time Upstate New York champions Syracuse are about to complete consecutive under-500 seasons for the first time, so they decided to take out some of their frustration at Eagle on Saturday:

The visitors decided that there would be ZERO doubt about this one, with a nine-run rally in the 1st followed by five more runs in the 2nd to give Syracuse a 14-0 lead after an inning and a half that would stretch to 17-0 before Eagle was able to cross home plate in the bottom of the 6th.

Ironically, Syracuse leadoff hitter Lon Duffy went down via fly ball ahead of the nine-run rally in the 1st, but that didn’t stop him from having an absolutely fantastic afternoon at the Fair Street Grounds in Elmira:

• T1: Fly Out to RF (1 out)
• T1: 1-run Single past 2B off J. Darby (R)
• T2: 1-run Double past 3B off P. Kjellsson (R)
• T4: Leadoff Single to LF off P. Kjellsson (R)
• T5: 2-run Single to RCF off P. Kjellsson
• T8: Leadoff Double to RF off L. Porcatello (R)
• T9: 2-run Triple to LF off L. Porcatello
• TOTAL: 6/7 (2 2B, 3B, 10 TB), 4 R, 6 RBI, 114 GMSC

Going by Game Score, Duffy’s afternoon at Eagle on the penultimate day of play was the performance of the season. It raised his Average from .312 to .325, OPS from .716 to .750, Run total to 70, RBI total to 57, and his WAR to 2.3.

The best Syracuse can finish is 34-36 if they win again at Eagle on the season’s final day, meaning that they will finish under .500 in consecutive seasons for the first time, and the third time overall. Given the chaotic nature of Upstate New York, Syracuse should be back at the top before long.