TROY — The Tri-City ValleyCats used two home runs to go along with a dominant pitching performance to win their second straight game against the Brooklyn Cyclones by a score of 5-2.
Drew Ferguson, who is with the ValleyCats on a rehab assignment for Triple-A Fresno, went deep during a three-run second inning, while Michael Wielansky hit his second career home run in the fourth inning.
All five of the ValleyCats runs were scored in the first four innings, while all 10 of their hits were collected in the first five innings.
The ValleyCats entered the sixth inning with a 5-0 lead and at this point in the game they also had a no-hitter in tact.
Tri-City’s starter Brett Daniels was untouchable, allowing just one man to reach in four hitless innings, when he left the game one inning shy of qualifying for the win.
Shawn Dubin then took over and carried the no-hit bid almost all the way out of the sixth inning.
Dylan Tice got a weak ground ball through the left side–with the ValleyCats’ infield shifted to the right.
Dubin ended up working his way out of the inning and earning his second career win with three stellar innings.
He did allow the ValleyCats’ first run in the seventh inning, when Manny Rodriguez used an infield single to bring home Chase Chambers.
Brooklyn’s final run was scored on a throwing error by Mark Moclair in the eighth inning, allowing Tice to score from third base.
Moclair then started the ninth inning, before being removed for Luis De Paula.
De Paula closed out the game for the ValleyCats, retiring all three batters that he faced in earning his third save of the season.
Now with a record of 35-27, the ValleyCats continue to lead the Stedler division over Lowell by 1.5 games.
With its fifth win against Brooklyn, Tri-City has taken the season series from the Cyclones, and they’ll seek a three-game sweep on Wednesday night, eyeing a 7 p.m. first pitch.
