Gonzalez Hits 'Cats to Victory in Connecticut
Published on July 22, 2014 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
NORWICH, CT - Tri-City catcher Alfredo Gonzalez hit a home run in the third inning, and scored the game winning run in the ninth, as the ValleyCats defeated the Connecticut Tigers 4-3 at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Conn., on Tuesday night.
The host Tigers got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning off of 'Cats starter Luis Ordosgoitti. However, Gonzalez led off the very next frame by slugging a 2-1 pitch from Connecticut RHP Tanner Bailey to cut the deficit in half. The home run was his second of the season.
Then, after getting their first run on a long ball, the ValleyCats took the lead in the top of the fourth inning by scoring a pair of runs in a more conservative way. Center fielder Bobby Boyd earned an RBI by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and right fielder Ryan Bottger drove home second baseman Juan Santana with an RBI groundout.
On the mound, Tri-City got a solid performance by Ordosgoitti, who rebounded after allowing the two runs in the second inning. The right-hander went on to pitch five frames, striking out three batters and allowing only three hits. Unfortunately, Connecticut did crawl back into the game late, scoring a run on a two-out RBI single by Joey Pankake in the bottom of the eighth inning.
But the tie did not last long, as Gonzalez led off the top of the ninth with a single to right field. The Santa Teresa del Tuy, Venezuela native eventually advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Boyd and moved to third on a fly ball by Bottger, before scoring on a two-out single by left fielder Derek Fisher to give the 'Cats the lead back.
Right-handed reliever Ryan Thompson then worked a perfect 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth, inducing three straight groundouts as the ValleyCats closed out their seventh victory in the last eight games.
With the win, the 'Cats improved their first-place lead in the Stedler Divison to seven games over the second place Tigers heading into Wednesday night's series finale. The matchup, which will begin at 11:05 a.m., will also be the final game played between the two rivals this season. Tri-City will enter the contest having taken six of the first nine games played against Connecticut.
On the mound for Tri-City will be RHP Troy Scribner (5-1, 1.03). He will face Connecticut RHP A.J. Ladwig (0-2 4.50).
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