TROY _ Two Oneonta Tigers figured heavily into the outcome of the New York-Penn League All-Star Game on Tuesday at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.
O-Tigers second baseman Mike Gosse hit a go-ahead RBI single and scored during a three-run seventh inning for the American League.
But Oneonta closer and losing pitcher Tyler Stohr allowed three runs in the ninth inning of the National League's 4-3 victory before 6,149 fans _ the second-highest attendance ever at Bruno Stadium, which opened in 2002.
David Flores of host Tri-City hit a two-run double with two out in the ninth inning to end it. He hit a towering fly ball to left-center off Stohr. Left fielder Robert Widlansky of Aberdeen backpedaled on the ball before drifting to his left. At the last moment, Widlansky reached to his left, but the ball glanced off his glove as his back made contact with the fence.
"I just went up there to hopefully get the next guy up," Flores said. "(Stohr) threw me a fastball that was down. I hit it well, but I knew today the wind was blowing in so I wasn't too sure if it was going to get out or not so I just kept running. I heard the crowd cheer and I saw the ball was on the ground and I knew the game was over then."
By the time Widlansky retrieved the ball and threw toward the infield, J.B. Shuck of Tri-City and Charles Cutler of Batavia had scored.
Stohr's blown save might have prevented Gosse from earning MVP honors, which instead went to Flores.
Gosse, who entered in the bottom of the fifth inning, went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the American League.
With the American League trailing, 1-0, heading into the top of the seventh, Gosse's single through the right side of the infield scored Jason Tweedy from second as the AL took a 2-1 lead. Gosse scored on Mitch Dening's two-out single to left. The throw home from Steve Susdorf beat Gosse, but catcher Cutler dropped the throw to make it 3-1.
"It's a really close game the whole time and they got a couple of guys on and had the (the ball) fall in there," Gosse said. "(Widlansky) had a great effort for that ball in left field (and a catch) would've ended the game, but unfortunately, you know, (it) kind of bobbled around and didn't land in his glove. Both teams gave an unbelievable effort tonight. It was awesome.
"I was happy to be fortunate enough to get a couple of hits and get an RBI and help out if we were going to get a win, you know," he continued. "It's too bad that we didn't, but like I said again it's a great honor."
Stohr entered in the ninth and gave up a leadoff double to State College's Chase D'Arnaud _ a drive down the third-base line. Brandon Turner of Jamestown grounded out to Gosse at second as D'Arnaud advanced to third.
Shuck followed with a soft fly to shallow center that dropped between Gosse and center fielder Anthony Scelfo for a single that scored D'Arnaud to make it 3-2.
A wild pitch by Stohr sent Shuck to second. Cutler then walked on a seven-pitch at-bat, taking the final pitch on a 3-2 count.
After Stohr struck out Jeremy Farrell for the second out, Flores ended it.
"He's a tough guy," Flores said of Stohr. "I've faced him before. I was just trying to do my best to get the next guy up and I couldn't even tell you what happened on that swing.
"I had no idea how far the ball was going to go," he continued. "It would go out on a normal day for sure. I knew I hit it well, but it fell short (of a home run). He threw a fastball that I had a chance to catch up with and I put the bat on the ball."
Stohr, a right-hander with 10 saves this season, threw 22 pitches in the ninth _ 14 for strikes.
Oneonta shortstop Brandon Douglas started for the AL. He struck out looking in his lone at-bat.
Phil Rummel of Tri City was named the game's outstanding pitcher. Rummel pitched a scoreless sixth inning and struck out two.
The NY-Penn's three-day break ends Thursday, when the O-Tigers begin a three-game series against the Hudson Valley Renegades at Damaschke Field. Second-place Oneonta has 18 games left in the regular season and trails Stedler Division-leading Lowell by six games.
"We need to get back into this race a little bit," Stohr said before the game. "Hopefully gain some ground on Lowell, they're a couple of games ahead of us and we go out there and we play Lowell next week. So, we need to catch them, pass them and you know, make the playoffs and hopefully put a run together in the playoffs."
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