'Cats maintain first-place lead despite 8-2 loss

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY - The Hudson Valley Renegades defeated the Tri-City ValleyCats 8-2 at Dutchess Stadium, in Wappingers, N.Y, on Sunday. However, due to losses by the Connecticut Tigers and Lowell Spinners, Tri-City maintained a three and a half game first-place lead in the New York-Penn League Stedler Division.

After the ValleyCats topped the Renegades 7-6 in an exciting come-from-behind contest on Saturday night, the Hudson Valley quickly took a big lead on Sunday, scoring three times in the first inning, once in the second, and twice in the third.

Tri-City second baseman Kolbey Carpenter hit a two-out, two-run single to drive in Alexander Melendez and Keach Ballard in the top of the ninth, but the 'Cats could not duplicate their late game heroics from the previous night, as they went on to receive only their second loss since the New York-Penn League All-Star Break.

Tri-City will now return home to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium to begin a three-game set against Connecticut. Game one of the series will begin on Monday, with a 7 p.m., first pitch. On the mound for the ValleyCats will be RHP Chris Murphy (1-1, 1.76), with RHP Ryan Castellanos (1-1, 3.86) getting the start for the Tigers.

Monday's contest will not just be the first in a three-game set, but will also be the first of six games played at "The Joe" between Connecticut and Tri-City in a span of two weeks, as the Tigers will also visit Troy, N.Y., three times from September 5-7 to conclude the regular season.