ValleyCats fall in exhibition game

TROY — The ValleyCats’ pitching struggled mightily early on in the game as they fell to the PGCBL’s Albany Dutchmen on Wednesday morning at Joe Bruno Stadium, 10-4.

2017 second-round pick Jayson Schroeder got the start for Tri-City but was wild throughout his start, walking four Albany hitters and hitting two more, only lasting 1 1/3 innings. Hansel Paulino did not provide much relief as he only lasted 1 2/3 innings, giving up a two-run double to Ben Metzinger which was part of a five-run second inning for Albany. Paulino walked one and hit two Albany hitters.

The ValleyCats allowed nine runs in the first four innings, putting the game away for the Dutchmen.

On offense, Tri-City hit a trio of home runs, which came from Hector Martinez, Juanrael Paulino and Andres Santana, which accounted for all four of the team’s runs.

On the mound after Schroeder and Hansel Paulino, Tri-City used Manny Ramirez, Luis De Paula, Julio Robaina, Christian Mejias and Miguel Figueroa. Ramirez was the most effective of all of them, throwing two innings and striking out six.

The last few innings went smooth on both sides as the Dutchmen won this annual exhibition for the second time in three years.

“It’s baseball. You kind of want to keep their nerves down a little bit, but in front of 4,000 today, a great crowd to play in front of, you just tell them it’s still just a game,” Dutchmen coach Nick Davey said.

The game was Education Day at Joe Bruno Stadium, with over 4,000 school kids from around the area in attendance.

The ValleyCats open their season on Friday on the road in Vermont before their home opener on Sunday against the Staten Island Yankees.