NYPL Tri-City ValleyCats

ValleyCats fall 5-4

Published on June 29, 2004 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release


Burlington, VT- The Tri-City ValleyCats fell behind and were not able to recover from an early hole as Vermont beat the ValleyCats 5-4 in the first of a two-game series.

The Expos runs came early off ValleyCats starter Evan Englebrook. He gave up a leadoff single to Doug Vroman, who advanced to second on a past ball. Ofilio Castro grounded out and Marvin Lowrance struck out. Then Edgardo Baez hit a towering home run off Englebrook to straight away centerfield to put the Expos up 2-0.

The ValleyCats got one back in the bottom of the first. Drew Sutton, Luke Barganier and Ben Zobrist the first three men in the order got on against Expo starter Chris Goodman. Then with two outs Kevin Vital got up the plate and walked home a run to cut the Vermont lead in half at 2-1.

After giving up a leadoff single in the second inning, Englebrook got Vermont to go in order. Then in the third inning the tall right-hander gave up back-to-back singles to Castro and Lowrence and with Castro at third, Englebrook uncorked a wild pitch that sailed over the glove of Lou Santangelo. Castro scored and it was 3-1.

Englebrook gave up two more runs in the fourth inning before his day was done. Levi Romero held the Expos scoreless.

The ValleyCats were pretty much dead in the seventh inning when they imploded against Expos reliever Francisco Sandoval for three runs. Wilner Alvarez started it off with a walk then took second when Drew Sutton singled.

Alvarez beat the throw in from the outfield but Sutton was thrown out at second base. With Alvarez at third, Luke Barganier reached on an error and set the table for Ben Zobrist. He smacked an RBI single that brought home Alvarez and brought Tri-City closer at 5-2.

Barganier went to third base on the play and scored when Francisco Sandoval balked him home. Mario Garza responded with a bloop single to center. Doug Vroman fired a ball that got past the catcher Ivany and allowed Barganier to score, bringing the ValleyCats within one run at 5-4.

The 'Cats came close to tying the game in the eighth inning when Wilner Alvarez took matters into his own hands. He singled, stole second base and came to third on a wild pitch by the third Expos pitcher of the night, Ben Cox, fired a wild pitch. Drew Sutton popped out to end the inning.

The ValleyCats conclude the series on Wednesday night against the Expos. Raymar Diaz gets the start for Tri-City. Greg Bunn goes for the Expos. First pitch is 7:05.

Check out the Tri-City ValleyCats Statistics



New York-Penn League Stories from June 29, 2004


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