The Tri-City ValleyCats are quickly establishing a reputation for comeback victories.
Ravel Santana, who earlier in the game tied it up with a sacrifice fly, walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to spark the ValleyCats past the Lowell Spinners, 4-3, in a New York-Penn League game Monday night before a Youth Program crowd of 4,998 at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.
Alex Hernandez walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. A.J. Reed, playing in his first game for the ValleyCats, was intentionally walked, and Nick Tanieulu was also walked to load the bases and set the stage for Santana’s walk-off walk.
“That’s our second straight comeback win,” said Tri-City manager Ed Romero. “These guys kept battling, and they capitalized on their opportunities. I enjoy these close games. It will give these guys a sense of confidence later on in the season.
“We haven’t been hitting the ball a lot yet. We scored on a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly and a walk-off walk, but these guys keep coming back.”
Reed, a University of Kentucky standout who arrived in Troy early Monday morning, was surprised he got the intentional pass.
“I thought they were going to pitch to me,” he said. “Especially at this level, I didn’t think they would walk me intentionally. But we got the win, and I’m excited to be part of it. I was also excited to be playing in my first game. It’s something I’ve dreamed about for a long time.”
Tri-City starter Troy Scribner was sensational for the first four innings, striking out eight and allowing just two hits.
After the ValleyCats took a 1-0 lead in the fifth ining on a single by Hernandez, the Spinners (1-3) scored three times in the sixth inning off Tri-Valley relievers Randall Fant and Jordan Mills.
Back-to-back doubles by Deiner Lopez and Nick Longhi plated the first run to knot the score.
With one out, Jordan Betts singled home Longhi, and with two outs, David Soplika’s hard single to center plated Betts.
The ValleyCats got one back in the bottom of the sixth when they loaded the bases on a single by Davis, a double to left by Tanieulu and a walk to Ariel Ovando. Davis scored on a wild pitch, but the ValleyCats left runners on second and third.
They tied the score in the eighth on Santana’s SF that plated Reed.
LOWELL TRI-CITY
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Hudson cf 4 0 0 0 Hrnandz 2b 4 1 1 1
Lopez 2b 4 1 1 0 Hyde ss 4 0 0 0
Longhi rf 4 1 1 1 Davis 3b 4 1 1 0
Meyers lf 4 0 1 0 Reed 1b 2 1 0 0
Betts 3b 4 1 1 1 Tanielu dh 3 0 1 0
Moore 1b 4 0 1 0 Santana lf 2 0 0 2
Suarez c 4 0 1 0 Ovando rf 3 1 2 0
Sopilka dh 4 0 1 1 Ritchie c 2 0 0 0
Flores ss 4 0 2 0 Wik cf 4 0 1 0
Totals 36 3 9 3 Totals 28 4 8 3
Lowell 000 003 000—3
Tri-City 000 011 011—4
Two out when winning run scored.
E—Jimenez (1), Meyers (1), Davis (3). DP—Lowell 1, Tri-City 1. LOB—Lowell 8, Tri-City 12. 2B—Flores (1), Lopez (2), Longhi (3), Tanielu (1), Ovanod (1). SB—Lopez 2 (2), Wik (1), Reed (1). SF—Santana. S—Ritchie, Tanielu, Hyde.
IP H R ER BB SO
Lowell
Perez 5 3 1 1 2 3
Martinez 1 2 1 1 1 0
Jimenez L,0-1 2 2-3 1 2 1 6 2
Tri-City
Scribner 4 2 0 0 0 8
Fant 1 1-3 5 3 3 0 0
Mills 1 2-3 1 0 0 1 2
Rivera W,1-0 2 1 0 0 0 2
HBP—by Scribner (Lopez), by Perez (Reed ). WP—Martinez.
Umpires—Home, Jacob Metz; Bases — Donnie Smith.
T—3:04. A—4,998.
GAZETTE COVERAGE
Ensure access to everything we do, today and every day, check out our subscribe page at DailyGazette.com/SubscribeMore from The Daily Gazette:
Amsterdam native Andre Jackson Jr. to remain in NBA Draft
Outdoors: Lack of precipitation having ripple effect
Carroll scores seven, Shenendehowa boys' lacrosse rolls to 22-6 Class A regional win
Scotia-Glenville Unified basketball takes on Amsterdam Unified - Images (10 photos)
If it's the NBA Finals, chances are Schenectady native Pat Riley is involved
Categories: Sports
