Pitching dominant as ‘Cats win fifth straight

NORWICH CT — The Tri-City ValleyCats (22-17) won their 5th straight game Thursday night, a 2-1 decision over the Connecticut Tigers (20-19) at Dodd Stadium. Tri-City improved to 4-2 against the Tigers this season.

Austin Nicely (4-1) earned the win for the ‘Cats, scattering six hits and a run over five innings. He out-dueled the Tigers’ Locke St. John (L, 2-5), who went six innings, but surrendered both of Tri-City’s runs.

Both of the ‘Cats runs came in the second inning. Chuckie Robinson led off with a walk, and Spencer Johnson tripled him home on a fly ball to right field. Brauly Mejia followed with a sacrifice fly, and Johnson scored what ended up as the game-winning run.

Even thought the Tigers out-hit the Valleycats 8-6, Connecticut mustered only one run in the 5th inning. Daniel Woodrow tripled (1) to lead off the frame, and Will Savage knocked him home with an RBI base hit.

Sean Stutzman pitched an inning of scoreless relief in the 6th inning for the ‘Cats. Agapito Barrios, on a rehab assignment from Class-A Quad Cities, picked up the save and allowed just two base runners in the final three frames.

John Hayes, John Schreiber and Eduardo Jimenez each pitched an inning of relief for Connecticut and each surrendered a walk, but otherwise held Tri-City to one hit over the final three innings.

The ValleyCats played without OF Stephen Wrenn, who was promoted to Quad Cities Tuesday, and Carmen Benedetti, Ronnie Dawson and Ryne Birk were all given the night off. Marcos Almonte, who re-joined the ValleyCats from Greeneville, made the start in centerfield in place of Wrenn, and Tyler Wolfe manned second base. Mejia played in right field, and Johnson in left, with Kevin Martir as the designated hitter.

Connecticut hosts Tri-City for game two of the series tomorrow, July 29, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. Erasmo Pinales (2-2, 4.01) gets the start for the ‘Cats, and Gregory Soto (0-1, 4.00) will throw for the Tigers.