ONEONTA _ The Oneonta Tigers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth but lost for the fifth time in six games, a 7-6 New York-Penn League setback against Batavia in front of an announced crowd of 567 at Damaschke Field.
The Tigers (17-13), who remained in first place in the Stedler Division, struck out 11 times. Oneonta also left 10 runners on base.
"Some of the disappointment in our hitting is we don't have good focus until the game is on the line late in the ballgame," Oneonta manager Howard Bushong said. "You have to hit all through (the game). We have to learn to stay focused the entire time."
Oneonta is a half-game up on Vermont (17-14), a 2-0 winner over Brooklyn on Wednesday. Lowell (17-15) is a game behind after beating State College, 5-1.
The Tigers play their next five games against Tri-City (9-19), starting with back-to-back road games at 7 p.m. today and Friday. Oneonta then hosts the ValleyCats at Doubleday Field at 2 p.m. Saturday before hosting a doubleheader beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday.
"During the course of any season when you are playing everyday, you are going to have your ups and downs," Bushong said. "Right now we're in a downturn. Obviously, if we are going to be a championship team or if we're going to be a playoff team, we have to limit that. It has to stop here pretty quick. Then we have to get on a little bit of a roll."
The Tigers trailed, 7-3, entering the bottom of the ninth and faced LaCurtis Mayes. Carmelo Jaime hit a sharp grounder through the legs of first baseman Alan Ahmady for an error to open the inning and Jamie Johnson walked.
Michael Rockett then got ahead in the count, 3-1, before hitting his second triple of the night _ this one to the gap in right-center field, scoring Jaime and Johnson to make it 7-5.
"We were taking a strike and trying to get back in the ballgame," Rockett said. "(Mayes) was having a little trouble throwing strikes and got down 3-1 and I knew he didn't want to load the bases so he threw a good pitch to drive and I stuck with it."
Rawley Bishop then followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Rockett for a 7-6 score.
Alexis Espinoza then grounded out to third on a close play at first. Espinoza threw his helmet and was ejected by field umpire John Collins.
John Murrian followed with a single up the middle, chasing Mayes. Santo Maertz then walked Wade Gaynor to put runners on first and second, but Maertz got Eric Roof to strike out swinging to end it. Roof appeared to hold his swing on the low pitch, but Collins said Roof went around when the call was appealed to him.
"It was a tough game tonight," said Bishop, who finished 1-for-3 with a triple. "I guess it just didn't go our way tonight. We played hard and gave ourselves a chance at the end and that's all you can ask for. ... We just have to all come together on the same page. We just have to find ways to pick each other up and find ways to win a ballgame."
Rockett, Espinoza and Gaynor each had three hits for Oneonta.
"We're low on pitching right now, so we have to extend guys and sometimes the extension is we get them when their tired," Bushong said. "Excuse? No. That's what the reason is. There's also a lot of credit to Batavia. Every mistake we made, they just didn't hit it _ they hit it to the gaps."
Losing pitcher Clemente Mendoza (3-2) gave up three runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked four.
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P.J. Harmer can be reached at pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.
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