FL Tri-City ValleyCats

ValleyCats Clinch First Playoff Berth Since 2018 with Win Over Miners

Published on August 30, 2024 under Frontier League (FL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release


AUGUSTA, NJ - The Tri-City ValleyCats (52-40) clinched their first postseason berth since 2018 after defeating the Sussex County Miners (32-62) 7-3 on Friday at Skylands Stadium. The ValleyCays also earned their first playoff berth since joining the Frontier League in 2021.

Sussex County opened the scoring in the first. Easton Klein walked Tony Gomez, who proceeded to steal second. Oraj Anu singled in a run to pull the Miners ahead, 1-0.

Tri-City answered in the second. Jimmy Boyce walked Ian Walters. Cam Jones singled, and Walters moved to third before scoring on an error from Alec Sayre, which tied the game, 1-1.

Tri-City took the lead in the fourth. Oscar Campos doubled, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kyle Novak and Cam Jones walked to load the bases. Elvis Peralta lifted a sac fly. Afterward, Novak came around on a balk to provide the ValleyCats a 3-1 advantage.

Tri-City added in the sixth. Angel Cespedes walked Dylan Broderick before Campos went deep for the 11 th time this season to make it a 5-1 contest.

Sussex County responded in the bottom of the sixth. Anu singled, and Alec Sayre walked, setting the table for Evan Giordano who laced a two-run double to cut the deficit to 5-3.

Cespedes walked Ryan Cash in the seventh. Jaxon Hallmark singled, and Cash went to third. Javeyan Williams picked up an RBI bunt single. Bobby Curry entered, and Broderick grounded out, moving both runners over. Campos was intentionally walked, and Walters had an RBI walk to put the ValleyCats on top, 7-3.

Jones singled in the eighth, and Peralta walked. Cash laid down a sac bunt to advance both runners over. Hallmark greeted Eston Stull with a two-run double to pull Tri-City ahead, 9-3.

Austin Dill walked Giordano in the bottom of the eighth. Gehrig Ebel and Jordan Smith each singled to load the bases. Hunter D'Amato reached on a fielder's choice after Walters bobbled the ball. Corey Acton delivered a two-run single against Zeke Wood to cut the deficit to 9-6.

Klein (7-3) earned the win. He hurled 5.1 innings of three-run ball, yielding seven hits, walking three, and striking out five.

Boyce (2-7) received the loss. He pitched four frames, giving up three runs, two earned on three hits, walking three, and striking out two.

Wood was handed his sixth save of the season. He threw 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit, and striking out three.

The ValleyCats play the middle game against the Miners on Saturday, August 31 st. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM start. The ValleyCats can clinch home field advantage for the Wild Card Game with a win on Saturday, or a loss from the Ottawa Titans. In this scenario, the home Wild Card Game would be played at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, September 3 rd at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

FINAL | TRI-CITY 9 | SUSSEX COUNTY 6

W: Easton Klein (7-3)

L: Jimmy Boyce (2-7)

S: Zeke Wood (6)

Time of Game: 3:03

Check out the Tri-City ValleyCats Statistics

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Frontier League Stories from August 30, 2024


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