Troy—Tri-City’s new found swagger payed off once again tonight. With their backs against the wall the ValleyCats went back to the basics and walked it off 3-2.
Tonight was a classic pitchers duel. Tri-City’s Peyton Battlefield set the tone for the game. The ninth round draft pick threw three innings, striking out as many batters and only allowing two men onto the base path. This helped him improve on his 1.00 ERA. Derek West and Hunter Brown took on the next five innings before Shea Barry shut down the ninth.
Manager Ozney Guillen said, “They set the tone. If you go out and throw strikes you’ll get three outs and that’s what we were missing earlier this year.”
The first run was put on the board by the ValleyCats. CJ Stubbs drew a walk and then used a balk and a wild pitch to make his way to third base. Yeuris Ramirez came up and hit a deep fly ball to left field. After backing up all the way to the warning track, Lowell’s Marino Campana dropped the fly ball, letting the run score and Ramirez advance to third.
Unfortunately Tri-City gave it back and then some in the following inning. Lowell got two hits early in the inning by Nick Decker and Gilberto Jimenez. These set the table for Jaxx Groshans to single into shallow center field and give the Spinners the lead. After this Barry came in for Brown and froze the offense, giving the ‘Cats one last chance.
After getting the leadoff hitter, Korey Lee, to ground out Yasel Santana lost all control, walking both Nate Perry and Stubbs. Right after Lowell opted to pull him for right hander Kris Jackson. Jackson gave up a single on a pulled ball to left field by Yeuris Ramirez which tied the game. Then during the next at bat Jackson threw a pitch straight down into the dirt which skipped away from the catcher Groshans. Luis Santana was very alert and slipped home before Groshans could recover the ball, winning the game.
“I said (to Santana) any play you see him set up inside, get ready for it. He got a great jump,” said Guillen
This game completes Tri-City’s second consecutive sweep which is also their second sweep of the year. We’ll see if they can make it three straight when they start a series against Hudson Valley tomorrow night.
“It’s exciting to see them now. We’re seeing them more relaxed,” Guillen said. ”It’s not just the big draft guys, and big time names that you’re used to, it’s the younger guys.”
