7/18/2025
By George Lucas
The Johnstown Mill Rats’ erupted for eleven runs over two big innings to defeat the Lafayette Aviators 11-1 in a run-rule-shortened seven-inning game Friday at Sargent’s Stadium at The Point.
The win gave the Mill Rats a three-games-to-one series win and evened the season set at three wins each.
The Aviators scored in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. That lead held up until Johnstown exploded for seven runs in the fifth. The Mill Rats sent ten hitters to the plate in the inning which was highlighted by a pair of two-run homeruns—one each from Gustavo Gonzalez (2) and Cooper Rasmussen (3). Johnstown led 7-1 after five.
In the sixth, Johnstown would again send the entire lineup to the plate. Those nine hitters plated four additional runs to push the Mill Rats’ lead to 11-1.
Johnstown reliever Joe Tootle gave up a lead-off single in the seventh and then proceeded to strike out the next three Aviators’ hitters for the 11-1 run-rule victory.
Isaias Espiritusanto improved to 3-2 giving up just one run on four hits over four innings of work.
Aviators’ starter Eric Tenery dropped to 3-4 with the loss.
The win moves Johnstown to a 6-10 second-half record (23-19 overall) although they still occupy the fourth spot in the Northeast Division.
Lafayette drops to 11-7 (26-17) but are still in command of the Northeast.
The Mill Rats’ welcome the Champion City Kings for a two-game set on Saturday (7:00pm) and Sunday (3:00pm) at Sargent’s Stadium at The Point.