TROY — ValleyCats’ Manager Morgan Ensberg wanted everyone to know that his team loved America more than their opponents, the Brooklyn Cyclones, Tuesday in front of 6,379 at Joe Bruno Stadium.
“We wanted to win on the fourth of July and that was really what the inspiration was about specifically in the eighth inning,” he said jokingly. The ‘Cats stormed back to score six runs in the eighth inning after trailing for much of the game as they defeated Brooklyn 9-5.
After coming out hot and scoring three in the first, it took the ValleyCats until the eighth inning to get back on the board. While trailing 5-3, the team scraped together a six-run inning headlined by Connor MacDonald’s walk to bring home the go-ahead run. MacDonald put together a ten pitch at bat that included four foul balls in order to bring home the run. “The adrenaline was going a bit…that’s a really big situation I just got to trust that I don’t try to do too much,” MacDonald said.
The Queensland, Australia native entered the game in the third inning as the ‘Cats leader in hits, Abraham Toro-Hernandez, was struck in the head with a fastball. The lineup change put MacDonald on third base for the first time since childhood, but he was not fazed.
Toro-Hernandez will be checked out by a doctor on Wednesday after he stumbled following the shot to the head, however, he did feel better after the game, according to Ensberg.
Tri-City starting pitcher Tyler Ivey did not have a memorable Fourth of July. After a quick first inning in which he allowed one hit, the recent MLB Draft pick, third round- 91st overall, did not fair so well in the second. He was pulled a third of the way through the box after giving up three earned runs (four total) on five hits and a walk.
Ensberg went on to say that Ivey needed to “stay ahead” in the count, but also noted his youth. “You have to start off your pro career somewhere and you’ve got to get your feet wet, so I think it was a good experience for him and I think he’ll improve from here on out.”
Cristian Javier came in for relief, pitching five and one-third innings, allowing an earned run on two hits and striking out seven batters. As Ensberg put it, “Javier is amazing”.
OF NOTE: Kristian Trompiz had a notable day at the plate, going two for four with four RBI.
The two teams will meet again in game three of the series on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
