Clutch Hitting Leads to 'Cats Victory over Empire State
August 14, 2022 - Frontier League (FL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
TROY, NY - The Empire State Greys and Tri-City ValleyCats faced off for the second time in the three game weekend series Saturday night at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.
Kyle Arjona took the mound for the 'Cats, with Mitsuki Akatsuka taking the ball for the Greys.
Arjona would work around a lead off double from Khalyd Cox and retire the next three batters he faced, stranding Cox at third base, pitching a scoreless frame. In the home half of the first inning, Brantley Bell would get the ValleyCats on the board first with a two-run home blast into the ValleyCats bullpen off of Akatsuka, giving Tri-City the early 2-0 cushion.
Arjona would cruise through the second and third innings, only allowing one base runner, a Jordan Holloman-Scott single in the second inning. Akatsuka would mirror Arjona's efforts, only allowing one ValleyCats batsmen to reach base in the bottom half of the same innings.
Arjona and the ValleyCats would run into trouble in the fourth, with six Greys coming around to score. The right hander was pulled after three and a third innings pitched, making way for Jake Dexter. John Benevolent would rip a bases clearing triple into deep right field, plating two runners. Hiroki Itakura would record an RBI with a sacrifice fly of his own, plating the fourth run of the inning. Khalyd Cox would double, plating the fifth and sixth runs of the inning, giving Empire State a four run lead.
Tri-City would get right to work at chipping away at the lead. Joey Campagna would single the first run home, and a sacrifice fly from Jace Mercer cut the Empire State lead in half. Following quiet fifth and sixth innings, the 'Cats offense would attack in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Brantley Bell would record hit number two of the night with a single to get the inning started. Paving Parks would follow him with a walk, putting two runners on for Denis Phipps. While Phipps was at the plate, a wild pitch thrown past catcher Paul Mondesi would plate Bell, who was standing on third following a successful double steal attempt. Following back to back intentional walks to both Phipps and Brad Zunica, Carson McCusker would come to the plate with the bases loaded. The right fielder would fly out to deep right field, bringing Parks in to score to tie the game. Jesus Lujano and Joey Campagna would both single in runs, giving Tri-City an 8-6 lead.
The top of the eighth saw Empire State battle back. Hiroki Itakura, Magglio Ordonez Jr, and Jose Mercado would work consecutive walks, loading the bases for Khalyd Cox. The center fielder would hit an opposite field single into left field, bringing two runs home, knotting things up at eight runs per side.
Trey Cochran-Gill worked a scoreless top half of the ninth inning, setting the table for the 'Cats to win it in the ninth inning. With one out in the inning, Carson McCusker would record his third hit of the game, a triple into right field, placing the winning run just 90 feet away. Jesus Lujano would be issued an intentional walk, bringing Austin Elder to the plate, who entered the game in the top of the eighth as a defensive replacement. The catcher would sky a fly ball deep into center field, allowing McCusker to tag up and secure the series victory.
FINAL | (42-34) TRI-CITY 9 (5-72) EMPIRE STATE 8
W: TREY COCHRAN-GILL (6-2)
L: JOSE MIESES (0-1)
SV: NONE
ATTENDANCE: 2,754
The ValleyCats and Empire State Greys wrap up their weekend series tomorrow evening for Sunday FunDay at The Joe! Sunday FunDay presented by HighMark Blue Shield of NorthEastern New York. It is also NFL Night at The Joe! Gates open early with catch on the field and NY 529 College Savings Program's summer reading with the players taking place before the series finale. and first pitch is scheduled for 5 PM. Following the completion of the game, kids 12 and under can run the bases at The Joe! Get your tickets today by calling 518-629-CATS, visiting the team's box office, or logging on to tcvalleycats.com.
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