Merced and Walters Combine for Seven RBI in ValleyCats' Victory
Published on July 7, 2023 under Frontier League (FL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
OTTAWA, CANADA - The Tri-City ValleyCats (30-19) scored 11 unanswered runs to take the series opener 11-6 over the Ottawa Titans (23-26) on Friday at Ottawa Stadium.
Ottawa put together a seemingly comfortable lead in the second. Dan Beebe issued a one-out walk to Jake Gitter. Jacob Talamante hit a double, which moved Gitter to third. Jackie Urbaez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Gitter scored on a wild pitch as Talamante and Urbaez advanced 90 feet. A walk to Jason Dicochea put runners at every square base again. Sicnarf Loopstok had an RBI infield single. Afterward, Jamey Smart had a two-run knock to give the Titans a 4-0 lead.
Tri-City clawed back in the fourth. Cito Culver and Jakob Goldfarb each had a single off Grant Larson. The two baserunners went to second and third, respectively, on a passed ball from Loopstok. Robbie Merced drove in two with a double. Zach Biermann grounded out to second, which moved Merced to third. Lamar Briggs had an RBI infield single to cut the deficit to 4-3.
The ValleyCats picked up where they left off in the fifth. Jaxon Hallmark and Culver each singled, and then both stole a base. Aaron Altherr walked to load the bases. Goldfarb laced a two-run single. Merced reached on an error from Dicochea, and the former was credited with an RBI. Biermann followed suit with a single, plating Goldfarb. On the same play, Merced advanced to third, and Biermann was thrown out second, trying to stretch his hit into a double. Andrew Roach entered, and hit Briggs with a pitch. Ian Walters followed suit with a three-run jack to pull Tri-City ahead, 10-4. It was the second homer for Walters in his last three games, and his fourth for the ValleyCats this season.
Beebe received a no-decision. He threw 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking four, and striking out six.
Tri-City tacked on another run in the sixth. Culver singled off Brooks Walton, who hit the next batter, Goldfarb, with a pitch. Merced brought in his fourth RBI of the game with a double to put the ValleyCats on top, 11-4. It was his second four-RBI effort in his last three games.
Ottawa showed some life with a run in the seventh and the eighth innings. Brendan Bell walked AJ Wright to begin the seventh. Two batters later, Gitter had an RBI double. Blake Workman issued two consecutive doubles in the eighth to Smart and Taylor Wright as the Titans trimmed the deficit to 11-6. Workman retired the side in order in the ninth, striking out two to record the second straight win for Tri-City.
Greg Veliz (3-1) earned the win for the ValleyCats. He relieved Beebe to get out of a second and third one-out jam in the fifth, and came out unscathed. Overall, Veliz was the only pitcher from either team to not allow a run as he tossed 1.2 innings, yielding one hit, a hit by pitch, and struck out two.
Larson (4-6) was handed the loss. He pitched 4.1 innings, giving up eight runs, seven earned on 11 hits, walking one, and striking out three.
Tri-City continues its three-game series in Ottawa, tomorrow, Saturday, July 8. First pitch is scheduled for 6 PM.
FINAL | TRI-CITY 11 | OTTAWA 6
W: Greg Veliz (3-1)
L: Grant Larson (4-6)
Time of Game: 2:53
Attendance: 1,460
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