Offensive Fireworks Spark 'Cats to July 4th Victory
Published on July 4, 2014 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValleyCats returned home from an eight-game road trip with a bang, defeating the Lowell Spinners by the score of 7-4 in front of 6,373 fans on Independence Day at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.
The 'Cats wasted little time getting into the scoring column, as third baseman J.D. Davis drove in left fielder Ryan Bottger with a one-out RBI single to give Tri-City a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
After the Spinners tied up the game in the top of the third, the ValleyCats took the lead right back in the bottom of the frame when Davis drove home catcher Alfredo Gonzalez with a double, then first baseman A.J. Reed hit an RBI-groundout that scored Bottger from third.
Lowell eventually tied up the game in the sixth inning, before Tri-City again responded quickly to regain the lead. The scoring happened thanks to a lead-off double by Reed, who then scored on a two-run home run smashed by designated hitter Terrell Joyce to deep centerfield, giving the 'Cats a 5-3 lead.
However, the scoring did not end there. In the seventh inning, Davis drove home Bottger again, this time on a line drive single to center field, before scoring himself on an RBI by second baseman Nick Tanielu.
By the time the smoke cleared, Davis (3-4 with three runs batted in and one double), Reed (2-4 with one run batted in and one double) and Gonzalez (2-4 with one run) had posted multi-hit games for the 'Cats, while Joyce (1-4 with the two-run go-ahead home run) and Bottger (1-3 with three runs scored) also added to the offensive onslaught.
On the mound, right-hander Brandon McNitt made his first career start after three prior appearances out of the bullpen. The 2014 27th round draft pick out of Stony Brook University threw a career-high three and two thirds innings, striking out three and allowing two runs off of only two hits. After left-hander Kevin Ferguson finished off the fourth inning, righty Austin Chrismon came on in the fifth frame and tossed three innings of relief to earn the win for Tri-City. Finishing the game for the 'Cats was right-handed closer Chris Munnelly, who struck out four batters in two innings.
The ValleyCats and Spinners will return to "The Joe" tomorrow for the second match-up in this three-game Independence Weekend series. It will be GE Kids in Free at the ballpark, as well as Red, White and Blue Glow in the Dark Night, featuring a glow stick giveaway and postgame fireworks.
On the mound for the Tri-City will be LHP Blaine Sims (0-0, 3.55), with RHP Heri Quevedo (1-2, 8.00) getting the start for Lowell.
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