Reed's 8th inning homer propels 'Cats to victory
JAMESTOWN, NY - In a tightly contested, back and forth game throughout, it was A.J. Reed's third home run of the season that put the 'Cats on top for good.
Reed was 3-for-4 at the plate, with two RBI, leading the 'Cats to a 4-3 victory over the Jammers on Thursday night at Russell Diethrick Park.
Bobby Boyd also collected two hits on the night, raising his team leading batting average to .388. Derek Fisher once again had a solid night at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a walk, RBI, and a run scored.
Fisher, the Astros' 37th overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, is now 5-for-8 since joining the ValleyCats on July 6.
With the victory, the 'Cats (18-9) opened up a six game lead in the Stedler Division. The ValleyCats currently lead the New York-Penn League in batting average (.275) and on-base percentage (.359).
The ValleyCats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning on a RBI single by Fisher, but Musgrove would give the run back in the 5th. The 'Cats came right back in the 6th, scoring two runs to give them a 3-1 lead.
However, Jamestown scored a pair of their own in the bottom half of the inning off of 'Cats reliever Bryan Radziewski, tying the ballgame once again, at 3-3.
That set the stage for A.J. Reed, who blasted a solo shot to right field to lead off the 8th inning, giving the 'Cats a 4-3 lead and the ultimate victory.
Jordan Mills and Derick Velasquez threw two scoreless innings to close out the ballgame, with Velasquez tossing a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his first save of the season.
Radziewski notched the victory, along with a blown save, after coming on in relief of Musgrove in the 6th inning.
The ValleyCats will look to complete a three-game sweep of the Jammers on Friday night. Luis Ordosgoitti (2-1, 4.95 ERA) takes the bump for the 'Cats, opposite Marek Minarik (0-2, 3.74 ERA) of the Jammers.