Salazar's Walk-Off Winner Vaults 'Cats into First
July 7, 2018 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
Cesar Salazar delivered a two-run base hit in the ninth inning on Saturday night to give the ValleyCats their first walk-off win of the season, 5-4 over Aberdeen at Joe Bruno Stadium.
The ValleyCats' season-high-tying third straight win vaults them over the Vermont Lake Monsters for first place in the Stedler Division.
The night started with a brilliant pitching performance from the ValleyCats' starter Luis Garcia, who collected a career-high 10 strikeouts, including seven in a row at one point.
Garcia was lifted after five innings, where he only allwed two baserunners. By that point, the ValleyCats had taken a 2-0 lead entering the sixth inning.
Alex Holderbach and Gilberto Celestino each used RBI singles in the fourth inning to get the ValleyCats on the scoreboard.
Holderbach ended the night with a career-high three hits for Tri-City.
Trey Dawson added a one-run single in the sixth inning for the ValleyCats to give them a 3-0 lead.
RJ Freure came out of the bullpen for Tri-City to make his Minor League debut in relief of Garcia.
Freure went two innings, giving up just a solo home run to Cody Roberts in the seventh inning to make the score 3-1 Tri-City entering the eighth.
Aberdeen then scored three eighth inning runs off of 'Cats lefty Carlos Hiraldo to steal the lead entering the ninth inning.
Gilberto Celestino and Jeremy Pena each led off the inning with singles, before Alex McKenna was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Salazar then lined his first hit of the night into right field.
Celestino scored the tying run, with Pena coming home behind him on an error by Aberdeen right fielder Doran Turchin that resulted in the game-winning run.
Entering the day, Tri-City had been 0-6 in games that they trailed entering the ninth inning.
Riley Cabral pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the first win of his Minor League career.
The ValleyCats and Ironbirds will return to Joe Bruno Stadium on Sunday night to play the second game of their three-game series.
First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m., with coverage starting on the ValleyCats Radio Network with Steven Cusumano approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the game.
New York-Penn League Stories from July 7, 2018
- Brooklyn's Late Rally Falls Short in 5-4 Loss to 'Birds - Brooklyn Cyclones
- Black Bears Claw out Late-Inning Win over Doubledays - West Virginia Black Bears
- Salazar's Walk-Off Winner Vaults 'Cats into First - Tri-City ValleyCats
- CT Tigers Pounce on Four Vermont Errors in 6-3 Win - Norwich Sea Unicorns
- Spikes Use Power Surge to Top Muckdogs, 7-4 - State College Spikes
- Scrappers Walk Off Versus Williamsport on Saturday - Mahoning Valley Scrappers
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- Lake Monsters Drop 3rd Straight With 6-3 Loss To Tigers - Vermont Lake Monsters
- Muckdogs Game Notes - Batavia Muckdogs
- Brandon Phillips Joins Lowell Spinners - Lowell Spinners
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