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FL Tri-City ValleyCats

Denis Phipps Breaks Single Season Home Run Record in ValleyCats Victory

July 24, 2022 - Frontier League (FL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release


TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValleyCats and Gateway Grizzlies met at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on Saturday night for the second game of this three game set.

Left handed starter Ryan Williamson made his fourth start of the season for Tri-City. Williamson came in to the start with an 0-3 record and a 9.00 ERA. J.P. Williams was his opposition.

Ryan Williamson would retire the Grizzlies in order to begin the game, bringing a scorching hot ValleyCats offense to the plate. Denis Phipps would get the 'Cats on the board with an RBI single in the home half of the first inning, plating Cito Culver who led off with a single of his own. In the second inning, first baseman Brad Zunica would add a run to the 'Cats lead with his own RBI single giving Williamson a 2-0 cushion.

The southpaw would dazzle in the second and third frames, retiring the next six Grizzlies batters in order. He would run into trouble in the fourth inning, surrendering RBI doubles to Isaac Benard and Trevor Achenbach to knot the game at 2-2.

The tie would not last all that long, as Tri-City would bring three runs home in the bottom half of the same inning. Mitch Piatnik would record an RBI single to give the lead back to Tri-City. Brantley Bell would extend the lead with a two-run shot of his own, bringing Denis Phipps to the plate with Pavin Parks on base. The designated hitter would tie the ValleyCats single season record with a two-run blast off of Williams to give Tri-City the 7-2 lead.

An RBI single from Andrew Penner and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Grizzlies right fielder Isaac Benard would chip away at the 'Cats lead in the top of the fifth inning, cutting it to 7-4.

Denis Phipps would come to the plate just one swing away from claiming the home run crown for the second year in a row. The right handed hitter would launch a solo shot over the berm in left center field for his 22nd big fly of the season, setting the record yet again.

Joey Campagna would get himself in the home run column with a two-run shot in the same inning, giving the 'Cats an eight run cushion heading into the seventh inning.

Neither team would plate runs in the seventh, and a Gateway player wouldn't cross home plate in the top half of the eighth inning either. Jesus Lujano would record an RBI double in the home half of the inning, bringing Brad Zunica in to score. The only unearned run scored against Gateway would come in the same turn at bat, when a Joey Campagna single allowed Lujano to score on an error on Zach Racusin in left field.

The Grizzlies would get on the board once more in the ninth on an RBI single from Ian Bibiloni. The 'Cats would not allow a run after that, giving Tri-City the series victory.

FINAL | (30-29) TRI-CITY 13 (29-30) GATEWAY 5

W: RYAN WILLIAMSON (1-3)

L: J.P. WILLIAMS (2-6)

SV: NONE

ATTENDANCE: 3754

The Tri-City ValleyCats and Gateway Grizzlies wrap up their series Sunday evening. It is Sunday FunDay at The Joe! Sunday FunDay presented by HighMark Blue Shield of NorthEastern New York. Gates will open at 3PM 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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