ValleyCats have best record in the league
Published on June 26, 2004 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
TROY-The Tri-City ValleyCats got back to their winning ways with a 4-2 win over Batavia thanks in large part to two solo home runs by Kevin Vital before 2, 145 at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. The 'Cats are now 7-3 with the best record in the New York-Penn. League.
Batavia came in tied for the best record in the Pinckney Division. They scored a run in the second and third innings. Nick Shimer singled off of ValleyCats starter Ryan McKeller. With Shimer on, McKeller walked Andy Jarvis and Josh Mader to load the bases. Then Timi Moni struck out before Sean Gamble lifted a sacrifice fly to left, bringing home Shimer and putting Batavia up 1-0.
In Batavia third inning, McKeller started things by hitting Zach Norman with a pitch. Greg Isaacson then smacked a double off of McKeller to put two runners in scoring position. The right-hander threw a wild pitch that allowed Norman to score and make it 2-0 going into the bottom of the third.
The ValleyCats would have liked it to be 2-1 because they thought a run had scored in the bottom of the second inning. With Kevin Vital at third and Chris Clark at second, Wilner Alvarez hit a single into leftfield. On the play, Vital scored easily and Batavia's Sean Gamble decided to cut his losses and throw out Clark at third. Home plate umpire Art Thigpen immediately waved off the second run, as he was under the impression the run scored after the third out. The ValleyCats had to settle for being down 1-0 at that point.
In the fourth inning, Tri-City would begin to chip away at the Batavia lead. Kevin Vital swung on a first pitch and belted a Joe Bisenius pitch over the right field wall. All of a sudden Batavia led just 2-1.
Tri-City would tack on another run to tie the game.
Then in the sixth inning, Vital belted another pitch over the right field wall for a towering homer that put the ValleyCats ahead 3-2.
Two outs later, Luke Barganier motored across home plate on a single by Jonny Ash. The ValleyCats went ahead 4-2.
The series continues Sunday night at 6:00 at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. Rory Shortell continues his rehab from Tommy John surgery when he faces in Batavia in game two of a three game series.
New York-Penn League Stories from June 26, 2004
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- Expos back on winning track - Vermont Lake Monsters
- Cards drop series opener to Doubledays - New Jersey Cardinals
- ValleyCats have best record in the league - Tri-City ValleyCats
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