NYPL Tri-City ValleyCats

'Cats Claw Back to Defeat Tigers 6-4

Published on June 29, 2014 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release


NORWICH, CT - The Tri-City ValleyCats rebounded from an early deficit to defeat the Connecticut Tigers 6-4 on Sunday at Dodd Stadium behind solid relief pitching and clutch hitting.

After entering the bottom of the third inning in a scoreless tie, the Tigers took a 4-0 lead off of a two-RBI single by center fielder Ross Kivett, and RBI singles by designated hitter Ben Verlander and catcher Franklin Navarro.

Connecticut held Tri-City scoreless until the top of the fifth inning, when 'Cats second baseman Nick Tanielu led off with a single, shortstop Alex Hernandez walked, then center fielder Bobby Boyd hit a ground ball to the first baseman, who's throw to second was misplayed by the Tigers' shortstop. Tanielu scored on the error, then left fielder Ryan Bottger hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Hernandez. Third basemen J.D. Davis then reached on an error, which brought up first baseman A.J. Reed. The Tri-City clean up hitter came through for the 'Cats, hitting a line drive double down the right field line and tying the game at 4-4.

After ValleyCats right-handed reliever Ryan Thompson, who came on in relief of starter Joe Musgrove, pitched a scoreless bottom of the fifth, Tri-City loaded the bases with no outs thanks to singles by Tanielu and Boyd, and another Connecticut error. Bottger then gave the 'Cats their first lead of the game on an RBI groundout to second base, and Reed added an insurance run with an RBI two batters later to push the score to 6-4.

Left-handed reliever Bryan Radziewski relieved Thompson and held the Tigers hitless over three frames of work. 'Cats closer Chris Munnelly then came on in the bottom of the ninth and worked a perfect final inning to earn his team-high fourth save.

Thompson (1-0) earned his first professional win for the ValleyCats. Getting charged with the loss for the Tigers was right-handed reliever Jack Fischer (0-1).

Offensively, six different Tri-City batters registered at least one hit. Boyd led the way registering four hits, the most for a ValleyCat batter since July 8, 2013, when Anthony Kemp went 4-5 against the Aberdeen IronBirds.

Reed and Tanielu also contributed multi-hit outings, with Reed going 2-4 with a double and three runs batted in, while Tanielu went 2-4 with two runs scored.

The ValleyCats will now travel to Burlington, Vermont to take on the Lake Monsters, starting a three-game set between the two Stedler Divison rivals. On the mound for Tri-City tomorrow will be LHP Blaine Sims (0-0, 4.09). He will face Vermont LHP Jerad Grundy (0-1, 2.81). The series in Vermont will conclude the 'Cats eight-game road trip. After an off day on July 3, Tri-City will return home to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on the Fourth of July to face the Lowell Spinners at 6:30pm.

Check out the Tri-City ValleyCats Statistics

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New York-Penn League Stories from June 29, 2014


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