Homers and Clutch Hitting Help 'Cats Top Spikes 8-7
July 11, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
STATE COLLEGE, PA - Dexture McCall and Brooks Marlow each hit home runs, while Cesar Carrasco drove home Johnny Sewald with the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, as the Tri-City ValleyCats topped the State College Spikes 8-7 on Saturday night at Medlar Field, in State College, Pa.
Bobby Wernes got the 'Cats on the board in the top of the second inning, scoring from third base on a ground ball hit by Keach Ballard that was misplayed by Spikes second baseman Danny Martin.
But Tri-City's early lead didn't last long, as the Spikes quickly jumped out on top, building a 5-1 lead with two runs in the bottom of the second, and three in the third.
However, Marlow trimmed the deficit down to a single run in the top of the fourth inning by smacking a three-run homer over the right field wall, driving home Wernes and Garrett Stubbs in the process.
The ValleyCats remained behind by one run until the top of the seventh inning, when McCall drove a 1-2 pitch from State College reliever Tyler Bray over the left field fence, driving home Antonio Nuñez to give Tri-City a 6-5 lead. Two batters later, Wernes drove home Drew Ferguson with an RBI double to increase the 'Cats lead to two runs.
After the Spikes tied the game once more with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, right-handed reliever Adam Whitt entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs, inducing a ground ball out to end the Spikes' threat, and send the game into the eighth inning with the score even at 8-8.
Sewald then hit a one-out single in the top of the eighth, before stealing second base, advancing to third on a hit by Edwin Medina, and racing home on a fly ball to left field by Carrasco to put Tri-City ahead 8-7.
After pitching a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, Whitt allowed Spikes first baseman Casey Grayson to reach on an infield single to lead-off the bottom of the ninth. But after 'Cats catcher threw out pinch-runner Josh Swirchak trying to steal second base, Whitt t retired the final two State College batters to cement the victory, and even Tri-City's season record at 11-11.
Offensively, Wernes led the way in the hit column for the 'Cats, going 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, and one run batted in. The Overland Park, Kan., native has now registered at least two hits in each of his last four games.
Ferguson (2-for-5 with one run and a stolen base) and Medina (2-for-5 with a stolen base) also produced multi-hit games for the 'Cats, while eight of the nine offensive starters had at least one hit.
Tri-City will look to continue their strong offensive production Sunday evening's 6:05 p.m. matchup in State College. The second game in this three-game set will face a pitching matchup between ValleyCats RHP Dean Deetz (2-1, 1.59), and Spikes RHP Landon Beck (1-1, 1.13).
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