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NYPL Tri-City ValleyCats

McCall's Hit Makes 'Cats Walk-Off Winners

July 15, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release


TROY, NY - Dexture McCall drove home Antonio Nuñez with an RBI single to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Tri-City ValleyCats topped the Vermont Lake Monsters 6-5 in front of 4,808 fans at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, on Wednesday night.

While he was the one who hit the game-ending RBI, McCall was also the one who put the 'Cats on the board initially, driving home Johnny Sewald with a two-out RBI single to right field in the bottom of the first. Two batters latter, Garrett Stubbs drove home McCall with a single to center field, putting Tri-City on top 2-0.

One inning later, Aaron Mizell, who was making his ValleyCats debut after getting promoted from Rookie-Level Greeneville on Tuesday night, drove home Keach Ballard with a sacrifice fly to center field. Anthony Hermelyn then followed that up with an RBI single, driving home Sewald to make the score 4-0.

Unfortunately, Vermont climbed back into the game, scoring one run in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly, then three in the top of the fifth on a bases loaded double that tied the game at 4-4.

The ValleyCats did take the lead back in the bottom of the sixth, when Pat Porter hit a triple to left field, then scored on a wild pitch. However, the Lake Monsters tied it up again the following frame on a sacrifice.

The game then stayed tied heading into the bottom of the ninth, when pinch-hitter Bryan Muñiz walked on a 3-2 pitch from Vermont right-hander John Gorman. Nuñez then pinch ran for Muñiz, and advanced from first base to third on a throwing error off of a pickoff attempt by Gorman.

Gorman then intentionally walked Sewald and Mizell, before Hermelyn flew out to right field, bringing up McCall with the bases loaded, and one out.

On the first pitch he saw from Gorman, McCall lined a single up the middle and in to centerfield, driving in Nuñez, and cementing the victory.

The final hit was McCall's third of the night, and his second walk-off single of the season (he also drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 14th inning against Lowell on July 5).

The victory was the ValleyCats' fourth walk-off win of the season, and in came in only their 10th home game.

Other than McCall, who finished the night 3-for-5 with two runs batted in, Stubbs (2-for-4 with one RBI) also posted a multi-hit game, while Sewald (1-for-3, two runs, two walks, and one stolen base) and Mizell (1-for-3 with one walk and one run driven in), also posted strong offensive showings.

On the mound, Zac Person struck out two batters while only allowing one run over three innings, in what was his first professional start (fourth appearance). He was followed by Kevin McCanna, and Ralph Garza, who both set career-highs with five strikeouts. Earning the win for the 'Cats was reliever Zac Grotz (1-0), who pitched a spotless ninth inning.

The Lake Monsters and ValleyCats will return to "The Joe" on Thursday night for the second game of this three-game set. Getting the start for Tri-City will be RHP Rogelio Armenteros (0-1, 5.40), with LHP Chris Koehler (2-0, 4.00) on the mound for Vermont.

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