Winkelman strikes out 7 in 'Cats 5-4 win

BATAVIA, NY - Alex Winkelman struck out seven batters in four innings, and Johnny Sewald hit a two-run go-ahead single in the top of the eighth, as the Tri-City ValleyCats came from behind to top the Batavia Muckdogs 5-4 at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia, N.Y., on Saturday night.

After falling 8-6 to the Muckdogs on Friday night in the first game of the series, the 'Cats fell behind again early in Saturday's contest. However, a combination of clutch hitting, as well as clutch pitching, helped Tri-City claw back for a come from behind victory.

After Batavia built an early 4-1 lead, Tri-City left fielder Aaron Mizell got the 'Cats offensive momentum started in the top of the sixth inning with a triple off of the wall in right-center field, driving home Antonio Nunez. Mizell then added a second RBI one inning later, driving home Sewald with a single, cutting the deficit to 4-3.

That score stood until the top of the eighth frame, when Sewald put the 'Cats ahead with a line-drive single up the middle with two-outs and the bases-loaded, driving home Kolbey Carpenter and Pat Porter, and giving Tri-City a 5-4 lead.

That margin was all Winkelman needed, as the left-hander, who entered the game to start the sixth inning, allowed only two hits, while setting a career-high with his seven strikeouts, en route to holding the Muckdogs scoreless over the final four frames.

Offensively, Mizell (2-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI) and Porter (2-for-4) posted multi-hit games for the 'Cats, who now hold a 1.5 game lead over the Connecticut Tigers for first place in the New York-Penn League Stedler Division.

The three-game series concludes on Sunday, when the Muckdogs and ValleyCats face off with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch at Dwyer Stadium. On the mound for Tri-City will be RHP Ralph Garza (0-1, 3.38), with RHP Jordan Holloway (1-3, 3.33) getting the start for Batavia.