ValleyCats Lose on Walk-Off in 10th
July 29, 2014 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
ABERDEEN, MD- With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, IronBirds catcher Alex Murphy hit a single off of 'Cats closer Ryan Thompson, a short fly ball that dropped in between second baseman Alex Hernandez and right fielder Jose Solano, to give Aberdeen a 2-1, 10th inning, walk-off victory on Tuesday night at Ripken Stadium.
The ValleyCats bats were silent yet again, getting six hits on the night with just one extra base hit, off the bat of catcher Alfredo Gonzalez.
It was the 'Cats pitching that kept them in the ballgame. Randall Fant had one of his better games all season, allowing five hits across five innings, while striking out eight batters.
Fant's only blemish came in the fourth inning, as IronBirds walk-off hero Alex Murphy also tied the ballgame at 1-1 with a lead-off solo home run to left. The IronBirds catcher finished the night 3-for-4 with 2 RBI.
The 'Cats best chance to take the lead came in the fifth inning. With one out, Alex Hernandez walked, and Alfredo Gonzalez doubled to right to put runners on second and third.
Bobby Boyd then hit the ball back to pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, who caught Hernandez too far down the line at third, and was nailed at the plate for the second out of the inning.
Boyd would steal second, followed by a walk to Mott Hyde, which loaded the bases for Derek Fisher. The IronBirds then went to the pen, replacing Jimenez with Nigel Nootbaar, who proceeded to strike out Fisher to end the threat.
In relief of Fant, Francis Ramirez threw 2 1/3 solid innings, allowing no runs on two hits, striking out four and walking two.
'Cats closer Ryan Thompson was called upon in the eighth with runners on first and second and one out. Thompson got Austin Anderson to ground out for the second out of the inning, as the runners advanced to second and third.
Thompson then intentionally walked Alex Murphy to face Jamill Moquette with the bases loaded, who flew out to right field to end the inning.
The same situation arose in the bottom of the 10th. Steve Wilkerson began the inning with a single to left, Riley Palmer reached on a fielding error by second baseman Juan Santana, and advanced to second on defensive indifference.
With the ValleyCats infield playing in, Jay Gonzalez grounded out to short for the first out. After a visit to the mound by 'Cats skipper Ed Romero, he decided once again to walk the bases loaded.
This time, the outcome wouldn't be as favorable, as it was Alex Murphy once again who delivered the blow. Murphy hit a short fly ball off of Thompson that just fell in between Hernandez at second and Solano in right, which sent the IronBirds fans home happy.
The loss gave Aberdeen (15-29) the series victory, and the ValleyCats (31-14) their first series loss since June 25-26 in Lowell.
The 'Cats now make the trek back to Troy, as they begin a six-game homestand on Wednesday night at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. They will face the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (July 30-August 1) and Batavia Muckdogs (August 2-4).
For the 'Cats on Wednesday, Austin Chrismon (4-2, 3.82 ERA) gets the start, opposite Kieran Lovegrove (2-2, 3.90 ERA). It's also 50 Cent Hot Dog Night, presented by Helmbold's.
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