'Cats Defeat Cyclones 5-3 in 16 Innings
August 27, 2013 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
BROOKLYN, NY- It took 16 innings and six pitchers for the ValleyCats, but they were able to squeak out a marathon victory over the Brooklyn Cyclones on Tuesday night by a final score of 5-3.
Michael Feliz got the start for the 'Cats, and threw five innings with one walk and eight strikeouts. Feliz gave up two earned runs in the bottom of the third after Cyclones outfielder Jonthan Clark reached on a one out bunt single to first base, and scored on a Gavin Cecchini double to right. Cecchini would advance to third on the throw to the plate trying to nab Clark, and later scored on a wild pitch from Feliz.
The 'Cats came right back in the top of the fourth inning. Tyler White hit a solo home run to left to lead-off the inning, his third of the season. Conrad Gregor then walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch from Frias. The next batter, Jon Kemmer singled to right which put runners on the corners with one out.
Ronnie Mitchell, 3-for-7 with an RBI on the night, then came through with a clutch RBI double to center, scoring Gregor to tie the ballgame 2-2. After Jake Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, Chan Moon hit a sacrifice fly to left, which scored Kemmer and put the 'Cats ahead 3-2.
The ValleyCats maintained their one run lead into the eighth inning, when J.D. Osborne came into the ballgame. Osborne replaced Tyler Brunneman, who threw two innings of one hit ball, striking out three Cyclones batters.
After getting the first out of the eighth, Osborne gave up a solo homer to L.J. Mazzilli that tied the game 3-3. Osborne would then load the bases with two outs on a walk and two singles, but narrowly escaped further damage by inducing a ground out from Juan Carlos Gamboa to end the threat.
The score would remain tied until the 16 inning. Brooklyn's fifth pitcher of the game, Cristian Chivilli walked Jack Mayfield to begin the frame, and then proceeded to hit Tyler White. The next batter, Conrad Gregor laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out.
Adam Nelubowich came on as a pinch-hitter for D'Andre Toney, who was inserted as a pinch runner the inning before, and didn't disappoint. He came through with a sacrifice fly to left fielder Jared King, just scoring Mayfield at the plate to put the 'Cats ahead 4-3. Jon Kemmer followed with a single to center, scoring White, giving the 'Cats an insurance run and a 5-3 lead.
Gonzalo Sanudo came on to pitch a 1-2-3 inning to earn his sixth consecutive save for the 'Cats, preserving a 5-3 victory and lowering the ValleyCats magic number to five games to clinch the Stedler Division title. Sanudo has been stellar since joining the 'Cats. In 9 1/3 innings pitched, he has only given up two hits, no earned runs, has walked nobody and has struck out 13 batters.
The ValleyCats and Cyclones will play the rubber game of their three game series on Wednesday night at MCU Park in Brooklyn. The 'Cats send RHP Kyle Westwood (2-1 1.14 ERA) to the mound to face Cyclones RHP John Gant (5-3 2.67). The ValleyCats then return to "The Joe" on Thursday for a doubleheader against the Vermont Lake Monsters with two 7-inning games beginning at 5pm.
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