Belleville, NJ – In high spirits buoyed by their thrilling victory in game 1, the Jersey Barons took the field as the visiting team in game 2. The Barons loaded the bases in the top of the first on an error, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch, but didn’t get the big hit to push home a run. Starting pitcher Dylan Steitz then took the hill and was impressive early, striking out the first two batters and then inducing a ground-out to short for a quick 1-2-3 inning. The Baron bats continued what they started in the first, this time getting 5 hits and 4 runs in the 2nd to jump out to an early 4-0 lead against the Mets’ veteran starter Anthony Donato.

Steitz worked around two singles in the Mets’ half of the 2nd with two more strikeouts to keep the score 4-0, looking impressive with his command and velocity. Donato kept the Barons off the scoreboard in the 3rd, and so Steitz went out again with a 4-0 lead. The original plan was for Steitz to work two innings on the day, but because of his strong performance, the talented young right-hander got the call to go out for another.

The Barons should have stuck to the original game plan, as Steitz struggled in the 3rd, walking the first batter and hitting SS Vinnie Malba in the helmet with two outs in a scary moment. Malba would remain dazed in the batter’s box for a few minutes, but got up and shook it off, staying in for the rest of the game. Steitz’s command clearly lost with fatigue, the next hitter LF Scott Burgess promptly deposited a double down the left-field line to plate two runs and bring the Mets back in the ballgame, 4-2.

The Barons then called on Matt Woehnker to stop the bleeding, but Woehnker was rudely met by the hot-hitting 1B Andy Rodriguez. Rodriguez drilled his fourth hit of the day to score Burgess, bringing the Mets within 1 run. But that would also be the final hit they would record on the day. Wenky was masterful in his relief appearance, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings to earn the W and lower his ERA to a paltry 0.73 in 12.1 innings.