Robinson's Big Night Sinks 'Cats
July 21, 2016 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
STATEN ISLAND - The Tri-City ValleyCats (17-16) started their three game road trip on the wrong foot as they fell 6-5 to the Staten Island Yankees (20-13) Thursday night at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.
The Yankees chased 'Cats starter Dustin Hunt from the game in the 2nd inning, who allowed three first inning runs on three-run shot by Timmy Robinson, his first of two home runs in the game.
Tri-City responded with three of their own in the top half of the second, when Ronnie Dawson scored on a Taylor Jones groundout, and Jake Rogers hit a solo home run, his second of the season. Alex DeGoti followed with a single, and advanced to second on an error, before stealing third and scoring on a wild pitch to tie the score at three.
Dawson doubled in the top of the third, scoring Johnson, to put the 'Cats on top, 4-3. Dawson finished 1-1 with three walks. As a whole, though, it was a rough night for the 'Cats offense. They left seven men on base, struck out 10 times and were 0-6 with runners in scoring position.
The first four Tri-City runs were scored off of Austin DeCarr, who scattered six hits over 3.2 innings. Taylor Widener (2-0) picked up the win in relief, striking out five over 2.1 scoreless.
Ryan Hartman came on in the 3rd in relief of Hunt, and twirled 3.1 innings of two hit ball, allowing an earned run and striking out six. Kevin Hill (L, 0-2) surrendered two runs on four hits in relief of Hartman.
Robinson hit his second home run of the game in the 6th, a solo shot, before hitting an RBI double in the 7th to give the Yankees a 6-4 lead. He finished 3-4 with 5 RBI and two runs scored.
The 'Cats fought back in the 9th, though, when DeGoti ripped a base hit and advanced to 3rd base on back-to-back wild pitches. Rodrigo Ayarza walked, and Ryne Birk hit a sac fly, scoring DeGoti. Stephen Wrenn, who finished 1-5, struck out looking to end the game.
'Cats 3B Randy Cesar was promoted to Class-A Quad Cities before the game, the first promotion from the squad this season. Cesar led the New York-Penn League with a .389 batting average before his promotion, and made his debut with the River Bandits Thursday night. He finished 3-5 with three runs scored in a 12-4 win.
Staten Island will host Tri-City for game two of this three game set tomorrow, July 22, at 7:00 pm. Agapito Barrios will take the hill for the 'Cats, who pitched with the team in 2015.
New York-Penn League Stories from July 21, 2016
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- Robinson's Big Night Sinks 'Cats - Tri-City ValleyCats
- Spikes Surge to 7-4 Comeback Win over Doubledays - State College Spikes
- Scrappers Get Spun by Lowell Spinners - Mahoning Valley Scrappers
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