Tri-City avoids sweep, beats Yankees 8-4

STATEN ISLAND – A four run 3rd inning and a three run 9th helped take down the Staten Island Yankees (21-14), as the Tri-City ValleyCats (18-17) avoided a sweep with an 8-4 win Saturday night at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

Erasmo Pinales (2-2) earned the win for the ‘Cats, who improved to one game over .500. Pinales allowed two runs in 4.1 innings, striking out four. He came on in relief of starter Sebastian Kessay, who surrendered two runs of his own in 3.2 innings, also striking out four. Kessay leads the team with 40 strikeouts.

The ‘Cats got off to a quick start when Stephen Wrenn hit a solo home run in the top of the first, his 9th of the season and first since July 8. He finished 2-5 with two runs scored, and owns a .294 batting average on the season.

Staten Island responded in the bottom of the 2nd when Dom Thompson-Williams hit his own solo shot, his first of the season.

Tri-City wasted no time re-taking the lead, pouring on four runs in the top of the 3rd to take a 5-1 lead. Ryne Birk walked with one out, and Stephen Wrenn singled on a line drive to center field, allowing Birk to go first to third. Wrenn stole second (8), and Carmen Benedetti walked to load the bases before Ronnie Dawson walked to force in a run, scoring Birk.

Brauly Mejia followed with his 3rd double of the season, scoring Wrenn and Benedetti, before Dawson scored on a throwing error.

The Yankees tacked on a run in the bottom half when Nick Solak hit into a double play, allowing Danienger Perez to score. They added one more run in the 6th and another in the 8th to make it a 5-4 ballgame, before the ‘Cats put them away for the night.

In the top of the 9th, Dawson reaches on a fielding error by first baseman Dalton Blaser, and Mejia walked. Alex DeGoti picked up his only hit of the night on a sharp ground ball to left field, plating Mejia. Rodrigo Ayarza promptly doubled (2) on a line drive to right field, scoring Jake Rogers and DeGoti to give the ‘Cats an 8-4 lead.

Nick Hernandez, appearing in his team-leading 10th game, walked one in the 9th, but otherwise held the Yankees in check.

Kolton Mahoney (3-2) took the loss for Staten Island, surrendering five runs (four earned) in six innings, walking five. Claudio Custodio tossed the final three innings for the Yanks, allowing three runs (two earned).

The ValleyCats come back home tomorrow, July 24, against the Vermont Lake Monsters for a three game series. Probable match-ups:

Sunday, July 24, 5:00: Framber Valdez (2-1, 4.32) vs. Ivan Andueza (1-2, 4.70)

Monday, July 25, 7:00: Enrique Chavez (2-0, 1.67) vs. Brandon Bailey (0-0, 1.93)

Tuesday, July 26, 7:00: Dakota Chalmers (4-1, 2.87) vs. Ryan Hartman (0-0, 1.40)