ValleyCats Take Game One in Washington
May 26, 2023 - Frontier League (FL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
Tri-City ValleyCats' Carson McCusker
(Tri-City ValleyCats, Credit: Julianna Naclerio)
WASHINGTON, PA - The Tri-City ValleyCats (6-7) traveled to Wild Things Park in Washington, PA on Friday to kickstart their final regular season series against the Washington Wild Things (6-7). The ValleyCats looked to bounce back from a series loss to the Windy City ThunderBolts earlier in the week, while the Wild Things looked to snap a five-game skid of their own in Friday's contest. The 'Cats sent sidearmer Rafi Vazquez to the hill, fresh off of a complete game shutout of these very same Wild Things in last Sunday's doubleheader at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.
The 'Cats came out swinging, leading off the game with back-to-back singles off of the bats of Josh Broughton and Jaxon Hallmark. Broughton would score later in the inning thanks to a double by first baseman Trey Hair. After reaching on a fielder's choice earlier in the frame, Carson McCusker would score on a passed ball (unearned) to give Tri-City an early two-run advantage.
In the top of the fourth frame, the 'Cats would strike again thanks to a Carson McCusker RBI single. Josh Broughton and Pavin Parks would both score on the line drive to left, making it a four-to-nothing advantage for the 'Cats, and giving McCusker his team-leading tenth and eleventh RBI of the season.
Rafi Vazquez's scoreless streak against the Wild Things would end at ten-and-two-thirds innings after Washington right fielder Anthony Brocato smashed a two-out triple in the bottom of the fourth, scoring first baseman Andrew Czech.
The 'Cats would immediately respond in the top of the fifth thanks to a leadoff solo shot to deep left field off of the bat of designated hitter Aaron Altherr, his first home run in a ValleyCats uniform. In his next at-bat, Altherr would slap an RBI single down the right field line in the top of the sixth to make it a six-to-two ballgame in favor of the 'Cats.
In the bottom of the sixth frame, Anthony Brocato would launch a solo shot to left, to cut the Wild Things' deficit to three. Rafi Vazquez's day would end with the right-hander in line for a victory. The rookie's final line in Friday's contest was: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, W.
After a strong inning from recent acquisition right-handed pitcher Elliott Carney, Tri-City would turn to Greg Veliz in the bottom of the eighth. Veliz surrendered a run on a solo home run from left fielder Tristan Peterson in one inning of work.
In the ninth, Pete Incaviglia turned to his closer, left-handed pitcher Reymin Guduan to shut the door on the Wild Things. After two quick outs, Wild Things shortstop Nick Gotta would slap a single through the left side, bringing the tying run to the plate in the form of second baseman Abraham Sequera. Sequera would work a full count against the former MLB southpaw, but Guduan would bury his thirteenth pitch of the inning and night in the dirt, drawing a swing from Sequera, and securing the win for Tri-City.
Carson McCusker earned New York Army National Guard Player of the Game honors for the first-time this season after recording his seventh multi-hit game of the young season, going 3-for-5, scoring twice, driving in two, and smashing a double off of the 405 sign in straight away centerfield.
FINAL | TRI-CITY 6 WASHINGTON 4
W: Rafi Vazquez (2-0)
L: Spencer Johnston (1-2)
SV: Reymin Guduan (2)
Season Twenty-FUN of ValleyCats baseball and entertainment continues as they are in the midst of a six-game road trip. Tri-City returns to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on Tuesday, May 30 for a six-game homestand with three games against the Trois-Riviéres Aigles (May 30 - June 1), and three games against the Empire State Greys (June 2-4). You can secure your seats today and be a part of the excitement by logging on totcvalleycats.com or by calling 518-629-CATS (2287).
Images from this story
 Tri-City ValleyCats' Carson McCusker (Julianna Naclerio) |
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