Leon Feingold throws gem as Netanya Tigers edge Modi'in Miracle

Fans who tuned into the Sunday Night Game on the television sport channel Arutz 5 were not disappointed as the Netanya Tigers defeated the Modi'in Miracle in a 2-1 pitchers duel. New York City native Leon Feingold out-pitched Modi'in's Audy Alcantara by throwing a complete-game three-hitter, allowing just one run while striking out four and walking one to pick up his second win.

The Tigers scored one run in the third inning on a single from leftfielder Dan Rootenberg and then one more in the fifth on a single from Dominican shortstop Hector De Los Santos. Although Modi'in centerfielder Adalberto Paulino hit his sixth homerun of the season, his team dropped its third consecutive game.

The Tel Aviv Lightning capitalized on the Miracle loss by beating the Beit Shemesh Blue Sox 10-1 to take sole possession of second place and move just 1.5 games behind the first-place Sox. Lightning pitcher Daniel Kaufman began the game a bit wild, but settled down to throw six innings and allowed no earned runs and only one hit while striking out seven batters and walking five to improve to 3-2.

The Tel Aviv offense handed Beit Shemesh's Juan Feliciano his first loss of the season, but a sloppy Blue Sox defense didn't help the cause either. Designated hitter Matt Brill and first baseman Stewart Brito each went 2-for-4 with two RBI to give Kaufman more than enough support as Steve Hertz's club won its third straight game.

The Petach Tikva Pioneers won their fourth game of the season by beating the Ra'anana Express 14-6. The Pioneers offense piled on the runs, but Brooklyn-native Alper Ulutas pitched a good game, throwing six innings and giving up two earned runs on six hits to go along with four strikeouts and five walks.

However, the offense was certainly the story of the game as leftfielder Ryan Crotin led the way, going 4-for-4 with two homers and three RBI. Centerfielder Ben Dashefsky also contributed with a 2-for-3 night and two RBI along with his first homerun of the season as the Pioneers snap their four-game losing skid.

In other league news, the commissioner's office announced that the commissioner has decided to disallow the Petach Tikva Pioneers' protest of the July 17th game against the Modi'in Miracle in which a homerun derby controversy occurred. During the game the umpires ruled that Petach Tikva second baseman Willis Bumphus could not participate in the same derby round as both a pitcher and batter. The decision means that the Modi'in is the official winner of the game.

As a result of the controversy, the commissioner has clarified the rules of the homerun derby to allow a change of a team's derby pitcher at any time.