Published: August 10, 2009 11:38 pm      

Balesteri’s three-run blast helps Buffalo beat Lansing

PORTAGE — Nicholas Balesteri made sure the game didn’t slip away.

The Buffalo Ken-Hy second baseman hit a three-run homer in the top of seventh inning Monday as Buffalo defeated Lansing Carl’s 8-7 in the lower bracket of the AAABA Tournament at Pete and Mick Haschak Memorial Field in Portage.

Buffalo was ahead 5-4 when Balesteri came to bat with men on first and second and none out.

He greeted Lansing reliever Jacob Smith by going the opposite way, blasting one 337 feet over the fence in right-center field.

“I was looking for something I could drive,” said Balesteri, 19. “I knew it had a chance with the wind blowing.”

The homer scored his brother, Anthony Balesteri, and James Pernick, both of whom had singled.

Brendan Schaefer picked up the win, pitching two innings of relief. Lansing starter Christopher Bossenberry took the loss.

Lansing’s big inning came in the fourth, when Carl’s took advantage of Buffalo starter James Tronolone’s wildness. Tronolone gave up two singles, walked two, and hit a batter in the three-run inning.

Lansing led 4-2 when Buffalo roared back scoring three in the sixth inning and setting the stage for Balesteri’s seventh-inning blast.

Lansing added two in the bottom of the seventh, with a Carlos Berroa walk and back-to-back doubles by Andrew Rademacher and Arthur DeOliveira.

Buffalo scored eight runs on nine hits and committed one error.

Lansing scored seven runs on 10 hits and had two miscues.

Buffalo manager Rick Ruggiero praised his team, which will face Brooklyn today.

“The boys love playing the game,” he said. “They battle all the time. We’re going to play one game at a time.”

Lansing manager Andrew Joseph, whose team will face Elk County today, said he’s concerned about his pitchers giving up too many walks.

“We’re going to hit the ball every game,” Joseph said. “We have to make them hit to get on and not give them free bases.”