NYPL Tri-City ValleyCats

'Cats Win 5-3, Sweep Black Bears

July 10, 2016 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release


GRANVILLE, WV - Spencer Johnson smacked his second New York-Penn League home run in grand style on Sunday, a grand slam in the fourth inning, as he led the 'Cats to a 5-3 victory over the West Virginia Black Bears to secure the series sweep.

The victory was the first time all season that the 'Cats have won three consecutive ball games, and the first time since their Opening Night win that they hold a record above .500 (12-11).

West Virginia opened the scoring in the bottom of the first off of 'Cats starting pitcher Austin Nicely, pushing one run across the plate on an RBI single by Black Bears third baseman Jordan George.

Nicely held the Black Bears in check in the second and third, and then Spencer Johnson gave him a bigger cushion in the top half of the fourth, blasting a grand slam to left to give the 'Cats a 4-1 lead.

The Black Bears would score twice more off of Nicely in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to 4-3, but that was all, and Nicely was able to secure his second victory of the season (2-1).

Rodrigo Ayarza started at third base for the 'Cats, and drove in their fifth run of the ballgame in the fifth on a line drive single to center. Taylor Jones picked up two hits in the ball game, and Alex DeGoti, Ryne Birk, and Chuckie Robinson all chipped in with one hit a piece.

Stephen Wrenn, who entered the day with a nine game hitting streak, and a league-best 21 consecutive games on-base, ended both of those streaks on Sunday with an 0-for-4 day at the plate.

Kevin Hill, who came on in relief of Nicely, allowing two hits in his three innings of work, while striking out three Black Bears batters.

Sean Stutzman, who recently celebrated his 23rd birthday, picked up his second save of the season for the 'Cats, throwing a 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure the victory.

Stutzman, a 2016 non-drafted free agent from Dallas Baptist University, has not allowed a hit in his six innings pitched so far this season, while he has walked just one and struck out seven.

The victory brought the 'Cats within three games of first place in the Stedler Division, a spot held by the 15-8 Connecticut Tigers.

The ValleyCats now travel to Mahoning Valley for a three game series versus the Scrappers, and then return home on Thursday, July 14 to take on the first place Tigers.

Check out the Tri-City ValleyCats Statistics



New York-Penn League Stories from July 10, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central