'Cats Turn Two to Top Tigers
Published on July 23, 2014 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
NORWICH, Conn. - Ryan Thompson induced a game-ending double play with runners on the corners and one out in the bottom of the ninth as the Tri-City ValleyCats shut out the Connecticut Tigers, 1-0, Wednesday afternoon in Norwich, Conn.
The win is the 'Cats fourth straight victory, and their eighth in the last nine games, as they improve their Stedler Division lead to eight over the Tigers.
The contest was a pitcher's duel throughout, as both teams were held scoreless over the first six frames. Tri-City starting pitcher Troy Scribner allowed only three hits, while striking out six batters in five innings, improving his league-leading strikeout total to 50 in the process.
Unfortunately, Connecticut's pitchers were almost as dominant, as the ValleyCats were held to four hits until the top of the seventh inning, when third baseman Nick Tanielu led off by reaching second on a Tigers' fielding error. He then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Alfredo Gonzalez, and scored on an RBI single by first baseman Ariel Ovando.
Connecticut was then retired in order in both the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings before Tigers infielder Joey Pankake led off the bottom of the ninth with a double off of 'Cats lefty Jordan Mills. After Pankake advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and pinch-hitter Ben Verlander walked, Thompson relieved Mills to face third baseman Steven Fuentes.
Fuentes then proceeded to hit a groundball to ValleyCats shortstop Mott Hyde, who stepped on second base before throwing over to Ovando at first to strand Pankake on third and give the ValleyCats the victory.
The newest member of the ValleyCats, right-handed reliever Aaron Vaughn, came on in the sixth inning and struck out two in two scoreless frames to earn the win. It was the first professional victory for the Tucson, Ariz., native who had pitched a combined eight games between Single-A Quad Cities and the Gulf Coast League before his assignment to Tri-City.
The 'Cats will now head to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium to take on the Staten Island Yankees, the New York-Penn League affiliate of the New York Yankees, to begin a three-game set. The series will begin tomorrow night with Beach Party / Island Night, presented by TD Bank. The game, which will begin with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch, will be followed by a postgame fireworks display, presented by Price Chopper.
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