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NYPL Tri-City ValleyCats

'Cats Clinch Berth in Championship with 6-5 Win

September 4, 2014 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release


TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValleyCats advanced to the New York-Penn League championship series for the third straight year on Thursday night after beating the Connecticut Tigers, 6-5, at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

After topping the Tigers 3-2 in 11 innings on Wednesday in Connecticut, the ValleyCats jumped out to an early lead in game two, pushing three runs across in the bottom of the second.

Tri-City centerfielder Jason Martin got the scoring started with a two-out RBI double to center field. Martin then was driven home by a single of the bat of second baseman Alex Hernandez, who scored on a single by left fielder Derek Fisher to put the 'Cats up 3-0.

Two innings later, third baseman Nick Tanielu drove home Hernandez with a RBI double one batter after Fisher got his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly. Martin also scored a run in the frame by coming home on a wild pitch as the ValleyCats built a six-run lead through four innings.

Right-hander Austin Chrismon got the start for Tri-City and threw 5.1 solid frames, striking out three batters while allowing only two earned runs. The Newport News, Va., native gave way to Chris Munnelly, who threw .1 innings in the top of the sixth, before giving way to Angel Heredia, who allowed a two-run single to Tigers center fielder Derek Hill for the fourth run of the frame for Connecticut, bringing the visitors within one run at 6-5. Fortunately, catcher Alfredo Gonzalez then threw out Hill trying to steal second base to send the game into the bottom of the sixth with the ValleyCats lead trimmed to only one run.

However, Heredia retired the Tigers in order in the top of the seventh before giving way to fellow reliever Derick Velazquez to begin the eighth inning.

Velazquez, who tied a career-high with 2.1 innings pitched on Wednesday night, pitched on consecutive days for the first time as a professional. But the Los Banos, Calif., native showed no signs of fatigue, working a 1-2-3 eighth inning before striking out the side in the ninth to cement the ValleyCats series victory and berth in the championship.

Leading the way offensively for Tri-City was Fisher, who went 2-2 with two runs batted in and two stolen bases. Two other ValleyCats posted multi-hit games, with Tanielu going 2-4 with an RBI and a double on his 22nd birthday and designated hitter Jamie Ritchie going 2-4 with a double.

In the other semifinal tilt, the State College Spikes shut out the Hudson Valley Renegades, 3-0, tying up that series at one win apiece. As a result, those two teams will face off on Friday night in a deciding third game, with the winner advancing to play Tri-City for the league title.

Since the ValleyCats have home-field advantage, they will play at home ballpark of either the Renegades or Spikes on Sunday, before hosting game two on Monday, with an if-necessary game three taking place at "The Joe" on Tuesday.

Tickets are available for the New York-Penn League Championship Series online at tcvalleycats.com, by calling 518-629-2287, or visiting the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium Box Office.

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