'Cats Hang a Perfect Ten in Second Straight Win
August 6, 2013 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
TROY, NY- The Tri-City ValleyCats were a prodigious offense early in this 2013 season, thanks in most part to their use of multi-run innings. That trend was back with a vengeance on Tuesday, as the 'Cats used their biggest single-game run total of the year to knock off the Williamsport Crosscutters, by a final of 10-2 in front of a sellout crowd of 4,802.
The fourth inning was key in Tri-City's second straight win. Coming into the inning trailing the Crosscutters 2-1, the 'Cats frame started off with a double by Conrad Gregor. After Williamsport starter Yacksel Rios (2-2) walked Brett Booth and hit Michael Martinez, the bases were loaded for Ronnie Mitchell. Looking to give his team the lead, Mitchell did just that by singling to center, scoring two, and putting the 'Cats ahead 3-2, a lead they would never relinquish.
Mitchell, who had three RBI's in the win, said he tried to keep his approach at the plate simple in the game's pivotal at-bat.
"I tried to get a good pitch to hit, try to keep the swing through the middle of the field, and I did that," said the Tri-City right fielder. "Any time we can score runs like that, it takes the pressure off the pitching staff."
Jack Mayfield scored Martinez on a sacrifice fly to extend the ValleyCats lead to 4-2. Two batters later, D'Andre Toney connected for a no-doubt, two-run home run to left center to pad the lead to 6-2, capping off a five-run frame for the 'Cats. It was Toney's second homer of the year, both of which have come at "The Joe."
Two more runs would come around to score an inning later for the ValleyCats, thanks to a double from Martinez and a single from Mayfield. In the 7th, the 'Cats added two more on another run-scoring hit from Mitchell and a double from Chan Moon. The two-bagger from the Tri-City All-Star shortstop brought home the tenth run of the game; the most the team has scored in a game all season long. Their previous high was nine runs, accomplished six different times, including Sunday's victory in Aberdeen.
Evan Grills (4-0) picked up the victory for the 'Cats, tossing four hitless innings of relief, striking out six along the way. The Canadian lefty came into the ballgame in the fifth, after Kevin Comer pitched the first three innings and Randall Fant threw the fourth.
The 'Cats totaled 14 hits on Tuesday, led by three from Conrad Gregor and Michael Martinez. The four doubles by the 'Cats is tied for the most they've had in one game this season.
Tomorrow's game represents a quick turnaround for the ValleyCats (28-21) and Crosscutters (24-23), with an 11 AM start on Wednesday. It's the second "Camp Day" of the season for the ValleyCats, with a sold-out crowd awaiting the matinee contest. RHP Adrian Houser (0-2, 2.56) will start for Tri-City, while RHP Julio Reyes (1-1, 4.09) makes his seventh start of the year for Williamsport. The 'Cats and Lowell Spinners remain tied up top the Stedler Division standings after Lowell beat Mahoning Valley Tuesday night.
New York-Penn League Stories from August 6, 2013
- 'Cats Hang a Perfect Ten in Second Straight Win - Tri-City ValleyCats
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- Renegades Slip out of First Place - Hudson Valley Renegades
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- Spikes Smash Four Homers to Beat Yankees, 7-3, for Eighth Straight Win - State College Spikes
- Vermont Falls In Extra-Innings 5-3 To Jamestown Tuesday - Vermont Lake Monsters
- Spikes blast past Yankees - Staten Island Yankees
- Spinners Scrap Their Way to Win, 4-3 - Lowell Spinners
- Spikes vs. S.I. Yankees - Game Notes - August 6, 2013 - State College Spikes
- IronBirds vs. Doubledays - Game Notes - August 6, 2013 - Aberdeen IronBirds
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