ABERDEEN – Alex DeGoti’s three run home run in the top of the ninth inning gave the Tri-City ValleyCats (26-21) the spark they needed to earn a 5-4 win over the Aberdeen IronBirds (19-27) Friday night at Leidos Field.
For the ‘Cats, Edgardo Sandoval picked up the win in relief, allowing just three baserunners in three innings, with four strikeouts. Nick Hernandez earned his New York-Penn League-leading sixth save of the season. With the series win, the ValleyCats keep pace with Lowell and Connecticut, who also won Friday.
Tri-City got on the board first in the top of the third inning, when a Rodrigo Ayarza single plated Bryan De La Cruz. Aberdeen responded a half inning later when Tucker Nathans doubled (2) on a line drive to left field, scoring Daniel Fajardo and Kirvin Moesquit to give the IronBirds a 2-1 lead.
Aberdeen tacked on two more in the fourth. Ryan McKenna and Alejandro Juvier came around to score on Fajardo’s single to make it a 4-1 ballgame. DeGoti, who finished 3-5 with two runs scored and three RBI, ripped a double in the fifth and scored one batter later on another Ayarza single to pull the ‘Cats within three.
In the top of the 9th, Taylor Jones flied out to lead off the inning, and Ronnie Dawson singled. With two outs, Gabriel Bracamonte walked, and Marcos Almonte came in to pinch run for him. With two on and two out, Jake Bray (BS, 1) replaced Andrew Elliott (L, 0-2). DeGoti welcomed Bray to the game with his first professional home run, clearing the bases and giving the ValleyCats the eventual series win.
Lucas Humpal, who got the start for Aberdeen, struck out five and surrendered a run in three innings. In relief, Cody Dube and Will Shepley tossed two innings each, and combined for two punch outs, three walks and a run.
Appearing in his second game for the ‘Cats, Makay Nelson gave up four runs on six hits in four innings. Carlos Sierra struck out the side in the fifth.
The ValleyCats come back home tomorrow night, August 6, to host the Brooklyn Cyclones for a three game set. Righty Enrique Chavez (3-1, 2.75) will take the hill for the ‘Cats, making his sixth start of the season.
