ValleyCats Unable to Slow Down Baez on Five-RBI Night
June 6, 2023 - Frontier League (FL)
Tri-City ValleyCats News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN - The Tri-City ValleyCats (11-11) dropped the series opener to the Evansville Otters (14-8) on Tuesday at Bosse Field.
The ValleyCats got on the board in the first. Jaxon Hallmark worked a walk against Justin Watland. He proceeded to steal second base, and advanced to third on an error from Jake Green. Jakob Goldfarb plated Hallmark with a sacrifice fly to give Tri-City a 1-0 lead.
The Otters responded in the second. Kona Quiggle singled off Rafi Vazquez before stealing second, and advancing to third on an error from Goldfarb. Bryan Rosario evened the game at 1-1 with an RBI groundout.
The ValleyCats retook the lead in the third. Cito Culver reached on a one-out walk. Goldfarb moved Culver to second with a single. Zach Biermann brought in Culver with a base hit to pull Tri-City ahead, 2-1.
Evansville retaliated in the bottom of the third. Noah Myers picked up a single and stole second. Ethan Skender was then hit by a pitch. Both baserunners moved up 90 feet on a groundout from Dakota Phillips. Jeffrey Baez put the Otters ahead, 3-2, with a two-run triple.
The ValleyCats tied up the game, 3-3, in the fifth. Carson McCusker went to first on a single and advanced to second on a passed ball from Green. Biermann came through again, this time with an RBI double.
Baez knocked in the go-ahead run with a solo shot in the home half of the fifth. Quiggle followed suit with a solo homer of his own to put the Otters on top, 5-3.
The Otters extended their lead in the seventh. Aaron Ernst issued a walk to Skender, who swiped second. Phillips was then hit by a pitch. The runners went to second and third respectively on a wild pitch before Baez collected his fourth and fifth RBI of the night with another two-run triple. Ernst was taken out of the game after walking the next two hitters. Pavin Parks came in relief, and Rosario greeted him with an RBI single to make it an 8-3 ballgame.
Parks led off the ninth with a leadoff walk off Jon Beymer. Culver brought Parks to second with a single. Goldfarb reached on a fielder's choice, which pushed Parks to third. McCusker, the reigning Frontier League Player of the Week, notched his second hit of the game to drive in Parks. Biermann loaded the bases with two outs after hitting a single. Jake Polancic then entered and recorded his fourth save of the year after Aaron Altherr lined out to end the game.
Watland (3-1) earned the win. He tossed five innings, allowing three runs, one earned on four hits, walking five, and striking out six.
Vazquez (3-1) was handed the loss, which snapped his stretch of four consecutive quality starts to begin the season. He lasted five innings, giving up five runs, four earned on seven hits, walking none, and striking out three.
The ValleyCats continue their road trip with the Otters tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM EDT at Bosse Field.
FINAL | EVANSVILLE 8 | TRI-CITY 4
W: Justin Watland (3-1)
L: Rafi Vazquez (3-1)
S: Jake Polancic (4)
Time of Game: 2:30
Attendance: 2,682
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