ValleyCats win opener in Oneonta
July 12, 2004 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
Oneonta, NY- The Tri-City ValleyCats won 3-2 over the Oneonta Tigers in the first of a three game series at Damaschke Field. The ValleyCats are now 16-8 after coming into the game losers of four of their last six games.
The game looked to be in danger of postponement as rain swept through the Interstate 88 corridor around 4:00 or so. The ValleyCats, already in the area because of an early day trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame, stretched through a light rain and mist. The game turned out to be delayed by only ten minutes.
Ryan McKeller started the game for the ValleyCats and held the Tigers scoreless through the first three innings. In the fourth he ran into some trouble. He walked three out of the first four batters. With Jeff Frazier of the Tigers at third base, McKeller uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Frazier to score. The score was 1-0 in favor of the Tigers.
Then Brent Dlugach stepped up to the plate and grounded into a double play. The ValleyCats got two much-needed outs but a run scored and Oneonta was ahead 2-0.
Georgia Tech product Andrew Kown pitched five scoreless innings against the ValleyCats who were only able to muster two hits. Dan Konecny relieved him in the sixth inning and that's when the ValleyCats took advantage.
The ValleyCats came back with three runs in the sixth inning. Drew Sutton led off the inning with a single and came around to third base when Jonny Ash hit a ball that went underneath Juan Ilamas's glove at third. The hit a run play was executed to perfection and before Ben Zobrist walked, Drew Sutton came home to score on a wild pitch.
Mario Garza stepped up to the plate and tied the game with a base hit that brought home Ash. The ValleyCats in the sixth inning, just like the Tigers in the fourth inning, got two runs home before the first out was recorded. Lou Santangelo proceeded to ground into a double play that got Oneonta, like the ValleyCats in the fourth, two much-needed outs. The ValleyCats plated another one to make it 3-2.
Ryan McKeller (1-1) pitched six innings, matching his longest outing of the season, which co-incidentally came against the Tigers. After Jeff Wigdahl pitched a scoreless seventh, Rodrigo Escobar finished off the last two innings for his third save of the season. He struck out four of the six men he retired.
The series continues tomorrow night with the second of three games in Oneonta. Andrew Alvarado gets the start for the 'Cats. The game can be heard in the capital region on AM 1160 WABY Mechanicville and AM 900 WUAM Saratoga Springs as well as on the internet at sportsjuice.com.
New York-Penn League Stories from July 12, 2004
- Expos arms strike down 15 Spinners when it's all said and done - Vermont Lake Monsters
- ValleyCats win opener in Oneonta - Tri-City ValleyCats
- Lucky Dog Hoobster Wins $10,000 For His Master - Williamsport Crosscutters
- Wideman named New York-Penn League Pitcher of the Week - Vermont Lake Monsters
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