'Cats Shut out Yankees in Series Opener
Published on July 24, 2014 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
TROY, NY - A.J. Reed and Nick Tanielu both slugged three-run home runs and four Tri-City pitchers combined to toss nine scoreless frames in a 14-0 ValleyCats shut out of the visiting Staten Island Yankees in front of 4,987 fans at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on Thursday night.
It looked like the Yankees were going to get to 'Cats starter Francis Ramirez early on, as the visitors managed to load the bases in the first inning and get two men on in the second. However, the Tri-City right-hander managed to escape unscathed on both occasions. He then eventually retired 11 straight batters en route to striking out five in five scoreless frames.
Right-handed reliever Vince Wheeland then tossed a scoreless sixth inning and lefty Randall Fant struck out the side in the seventh before allowing a two-out base hit in the eighth, ending a streak of 19 consecutive retired Yankees.
Although the dominant pitching performance certainly gave the 'Cats enough to propel them to victory, the arms were arguably overshadowed by what was Tri-City's most explosive offensive output of the season.
Getting the scoring started was shortstop Mott Hyde, whose two-run triple broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third. He later scored on an RBI single by left fielder Derek Fisher.
Two innings later, after hitting a one-out double, Hyde scored on a Staten Island throwing error. Two batters later, Reed hit his three-run home run off of Yankees reliever Rony Bautista to create a 7-0 ValleyCats lead.
Hyde concluded his outstanding night with an RBI double in the sixth inning. Overall, the Calhoun, Ga., native finished 3-4 with two doubles, a triple, and three runs batted in. But the ValleyCats offense did not end with him, as Tanielu smoked a line drive three-run home run over the right field wall, and added an RBI in the eighth. Ryan Bottger added an RBI double in that frame as well.
The 14 runs scored were the most by a ValleyCats team in a regular season game since a 15-5 victory over Vermont on Sept. 2, 2009. The victory extends Tri-City's win streak to a season-high five games.
The series will resume tomorrow with RHP Brandon McNitt (1-0, 1.74) getting the start for the 'Cats. On the mound for the Yankees will be RHP Dillon McNamara (1-1, 3.27).
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