Three Run Ninth Propels Cats to Fourth Straight Win
Published on July 11, 2016 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
NILES, OH - The ValleyCats used a three run ninth inning for a come from behind 6-5 victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Monday night, earning their fourth straight win.
The Scrappers took a narrow 4-3 lead into the ninth, but would quickly load the bases with one out after a walk to Alex DeGoti, single by Ryne Birk, and a walk to Stephen Wrenn.
Randy Cesar now at the plate, a wild pitch by Scrappers reliever Ryan Perez allowed DeGoti to score the tying run. Cesar then delivered a two run single to put the 'Cats ahead 6-4.
Mahoning Valley made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth, after a Nathan Winfrey solo homer off of Nick Hernandez, single and wild pitch, put the tying run into scoring position.
However, Hernandez would strike out Silento Sayles to end the threat and the ballgame. It was just the second time all season that the 'Cats have won when trailing after eight innings.
Ryne Burke was the offensive star for Tri-City, going 3-for-4 at the plate, with a double and three RBIs. Burke raised his batting average to .365, good for third best in the New York-Penn League.
Randy Cesar went 2-for-5, driving in two runs, including the go-ahead double in the ninth. Four of the nine 'Cats in the lineup are hitting above .300, and the team leads the league with a combined batting average of .270.
RHP Dustin Hunt, from Andover, Mass., got the start for the 'Cats, and allowed three earned runs in his 3 1/3 innings pitched. Mahoning Valley struck first in the ball game, scoring once in the first, and two in the fourth to give them a 3-0 lead.
The 'Cats would get two of the runs back in the fifth inning on a double by Burke, which scored Chuckie Robinson and Kevin Martir, who both reached on singles.
Burke would deliver for the 'Cats yet again in the seventh, a two out RBI single to left to plate Martir, tying the game at 3-3.
Ryan Hartman, who came on in relief of Hunt, was impressive in his 3 2/3 innings pitched, as he struck out seven Scrappers while scattering four hits.
The ValleyCats improved their record to 13-11, gained a game in the standings, and now sit just two games behind the Connecticut Tigers for first place in the Stedler Division.
Tuesday night the 'Cats and Scrappers meet again in the middle game of their three game set. LHP Sebastian Kessay (1-0, 4.34 ERA) will toe the rubber for Tri-City, opposite Mahoning Valley right hander Aaron Civale (0-0, 0.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.
New York-Penn League Stories from July 11, 2016
- Three Run Ninth Propels Cats to Fourth Straight Win - Tri-City ValleyCats
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- Late Runs Sink Scrappers - Mahoning Valley Scrappers
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