NYPL Tri-City ValleyCats

Lowell Stops Skid with 9-2 Win

Published on July 29, 2010 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release


TROY, NY - The ValleyCats' winning ways came to an abrupt halt on Thursday night. Tri-City fell into a deep hole early and never recovered, losing 9-2 to Lowell. The victory was only the second in 15 games for the Spinners, while the 'Cats snapped a three-game win streak.

Tri-City Lefty Alex Sogard made his second start of the season and retired the side in order in the first. But he ran into trouble very soon. Ben Orloff picked a grounder to his right but threw too high to catch leadoff hitter Miles Head at first, opening the floodgates for five Spinners runs. Brandon Jacobs doubled and struggling outfielder Bryce Brentz singled home the first run; both scored on Joantoni Garcia's one-out double. Another Garcia plated two more runners when shortstop Jose singled home his namesake and David Renfroe.

The onslaught continued in the third inning. Head again got on base to lead off the inning, doubling to right-center field. After Jacobs drew a walk, Brentz drove in another run with a double to left, knocking Sogard out of the game after only six outs.

Reliever Joan Belliard also struggled in the third inning. Renfroe's single brought home Jacobs and Brentz, and two more base hits allowed the third baseman to increase the lead to 9-1. Belliard retired Jose Garcia and Vitek to end the inning, but the damage was done.

The ValleyCats' pitching settled down considerably after the third inning. Belliard, Adam Champion and Travis Blankenship combined to blank the Spinners over the final six frames, allowing only one hit - a Vitek infield single.

Ben Heath provided the longest hit of the night, a second-inning line drive that easily cleared the fence in left-center field. The blast was Heath's team-leading sixth homer of the season.

Tri-City manufactured another run in the fourth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Adam Bailey's grounder up the middle got through the infield, plating Mike Kvasnicka. Infante fouled out to first to end the threat, strending a trio of runners. The ValleyCats left nine runners on base in the game.

Brentz entered the game batting just .158, but had a terrific night at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI and a walk. Both of his outs could have easily fallen for hits: Dan Adamson ran down a deep fly ball in on the warning track in center field, catching the ball on a sprint backwards over his head; and Brentz's ninth-inning line drive was hit right at left fielder Wilton Infante.

Lowell starter Roman Mendez earned the victory, allowing two runs in five innings for his longest outing of the season. The Spinners' bullpen held the hosts scoreless over the final four innings and allowed only two hits, while Lowell pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts.

Kiké Hernandez went 2-for-4 with his 11th double of the season, extending his hitting streak to nine games. Hernandez has hit safely in 22 of 23 games he has appeared in this month. Tyler Burnett also has a hit in his last nine games, while Kvasnicka and Buck Afenir had streaks snapped at nine and eight games, respectively.

The Spinners and ValleyCats return to Joe Bruno Stadium for a rubber match tomorrow night at 7 pm. Madison Younginer and Lowell (9-31) will look to keep the momentum rolling, while Andrew Robinson will make his first start for Tri-City (16-22).

Check out the Tri-City ValleyCats Statistics

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New York-Penn League Stories from July 29, 2010


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