
Valdez Fans Nine, Dawson Homers in 6-3 Victory
Published on July 18, 2016 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
TROY - Ronnie Dawson smacked his fifth home run of the year and Carmen Benedetti added two RBI as the Tri-City ValleyCats (17-14) defeated the Batavia Muckdogs (6-25), a 6-3 final at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on Monday night.
Pitching in his best outing this season, Framber Valdez (W, 2-1) fanned nine batters over five innings, allowing a run on five hits. Nick Hernandez picked up the save in relief, his third of the season, as he struck out two in a perfect 9th inning.
The ValleyCats scored three runs in the first inning off of Jordan Holloway (L, 0-3), and now have scored 26 runs in the first frame this season. Rodrigo Ayarza led off with a walk, Ryne Birk singled and Stephen Wrenn walked to load the bases. Carmen Benedetti delivered a two-run base hit, scoring Ayarza and Birk, giving him 14 RBI for the year. Randy Cesar followed with a base hit of his own, scoring Wrenn to give the 'Cats a 3-0 lead.
Edgardo Sandoval, who got the start for Tri-City, pitched two innings, striking out one, and let only one Muckdog reach base when he hit Eric Gutierrez with a pitch in the top of the first.
Batavia put up a run in the 5th when Javier Lopez grounded into a force out with the bases loaded, scoring JJ Gould. Gould wound up as the only Muckdog to not strikeout, and finished 3-4 with a solo home run in the 8th and two singles.
Tri-City, which improved to 4-1 during the six-game homestand, plated a run in the bottom of the 5th when Chuckie Robinson singled off of Shane Sawczak, scoring Cesar and giving the 'Cats a 4-1 lead.
Ronnie Dawson's home run (5) off Sam Perez in the 7th inning gave the 'Cats a five-run cushion. The blast traveled 404 feet to right-center field, and left Dawson's bat at 103 mph. The Astros 2016 2nd round draft pick now has four home runs and 12 RBI in his last five games.
Randy Cesar, who finished 3-3 with three singles and a walk, also scored twice and had an RBI. Cesar is now 17 for his last 29 (.585) with seven RBI and nine runs scored.
Southpaw Howie Brey came on for the 8th inning and allowed Gould's home run and an RBI double from Samuel Castro, before Hernandez closed out the 9th inning.
The 'Cats will look for the sweep in tomorrow's series finale against the Muckdogs, with first pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Enrique Chavez (2-0, 0.82) will take the mound for the 'Cats in the matinee, while Batavia will send Jose Diaz (0-3, 8.55) to the hill.
-VALLEYCATS- Keep up with the ValleyCats through social media by following on Twitter (@ValleyCats) and Instagram (@tcvalleycats) and 'liking' on Facebook (/ValleyCats).
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