Doran dominates Crosscutters
Dan Adamson has enjoyed playing at Joe Bruno Stadium this season.
The center fielder has reached base in all but one of his 24 home games in 2010. He leads the team with a .429 on-base percentage and a .607 slugging percentage at Joe Bruno Stadium. And after a three-run third-inning blast off Ervis Manzanillo, Adamson has now homered in four of his last five home games.
"I don't feel like there's anything different [playing at home], but there must be something," said Adamson, who called the homer his hardest-hit ball of the year. "I feel pretty good at the plate."
All of the ValleyCats have had success in Troy recently, as Wednesday's 6-1 victory was their fifth in a row at home. 4,077 fans - and 196 dogs - were on hand as Tri-City extended its winning streak to four games overall, its longest of the season.
Ben Orloff led off the third inning with a single and fellow All-Star Tyler Burnett later walked, setting the table for Adamson's two-out blast. Burnett drew a pair of free passes on the game, extending his on-base streak to 37 consecutive games.
Adamson plated both with his homer, a line drive that carried well over the left-field bullpen to make the score 4-0.
"He just keeps getting big hits," Pankovits said of Adamson, who has hit six homers this season. "It seems like at least once a game, he just tattoos one, and he's got some country strong power. If you make a mistake with him, you're going to pay."
Starter Bobby Doran scattered five hits in six shutout innings. Relying primarily on his fastball, the quick-working righty notched five strikeouts and did not walk a single batter. Doran has issued only six unintentional free passes in 50 innings this season, the third-best walk rate among starters in the NY-Penn League.
Doran has now allowed just five earned runs in his last four starts, earning three victories.
"In [Doran's] last 3-4 starts, he's really turned it up a notch, and tonight was his best," Pankovits said. "He really challenged hitters and was able to set up his breaking ball, and he made a lot of big pitches tonight."
The ValleyCats took the lead in the second inning without the benefit of a hit. Mike Kvasnicka reached base when first baseman Jeff Cusick dropped a throw and scored when shortstop Edgar Duran booted a Buck Afenir grounder.
Adamson showed off another side of his game in the sixth inning, using his speed to beat out an infield single. Three more base hits brought Adamson home, the latter a Jacke Healey grounder up the middle. The ValleyCats still had the bases loaded with no outs, but Jordan Whatcott retired the next three batters to get out of the jam.
Burnett added another insurance run in the seventh. The first baseman drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Mike Kvasnicka plated him with an opposite-field single.
Tri-City flirted with a shutout but lost it late in the ninth. Closer Jorge De Leon allowed a one-out single to Cameron Rupp and walked the next batter, but had a chance to escape the inning with a ground ball. Healey fielded the ball and threw to Orloff to get one out, but Orloff's relay to first sailed past Burnett. Rupp came home on the errant throw.
Murillo Gouvea and Travis Blankenship each pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the hosts.
The ValleyCats look to sweep the Crosscutters and extend their winning streak to five games tomorrow morning. The getaway matinée begins at 11 am.
The center fielder has reached base in all but one of his 24 home games in 2010. He leads the team with a .429 on-base percentage and a .607 slugging percentage at Joe Bruno Stadium. And after a three-run third-inning blast off Ervis Manzanillo, Adamson has now homered in four of his last five home games.
"I don't feel like there's anything different [playing at home], but there must be something," said Adamson, who called the homer his hardest-hit ball of the year. "I feel pretty good at the plate."
All of the ValleyCats have had success in Troy recently, as Wednesday's 6-1 victory was their fifth in a row at home. 4,077 fans - and 196 dogs - were on hand as Tri-City extended its winning streak to four games overall, its longest of the season.
Ben Orloff led off the third inning with a single and fellow All-Star Tyler Burnett later walked, setting the table for Adamson's two-out blast. Burnett drew a pair of free passes on the game, extending his on-base streak to 37 consecutive games.
Adamson plated both with his homer, a line drive that carried well over the left-field bullpen to make the score 4-0.
"He just keeps getting big hits," Pankovits said of Adamson, who has hit six homers this season. "It seems like at least once a game, he just tattoos one, and he's got some country strong power. If you make a mistake with him, you're going to pay."
Starter Bobby Doran scattered five hits in six shutout innings. Relying primarily on his fastball, the quick-working righty notched five strikeouts and did not walk a single batter. Doran has issued only six unintentional free passes in 50 innings this season, the third-best walk rate among starters in the NY-Penn League.
Doran has now allowed just five earned runs in his last four starts, earning three victories.
"In [Doran's] last 3-4 starts, he's really turned it up a notch, and tonight was his best," Pankovits said. "He really challenged hitters and was able to set up his breaking ball, and he made a lot of big pitches tonight."
The ValleyCats took the lead in the second inning without the benefit of a hit. Mike Kvasnicka reached base when first baseman Jeff Cusick dropped a throw and scored when shortstop Edgar Duran booted a Buck Afenir grounder.
Adamson showed off another side of his game in the sixth inning, using his speed to beat out an infield single. Three more base hits brought Adamson home, the latter a Jacke Healey grounder up the middle. The ValleyCats still had the bases loaded with no outs, but Jordan Whatcott retired the next three batters to get out of the jam.
Burnett added another insurance run in the seventh. The first baseman drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Mike Kvasnicka plated him with an opposite-field single.
Tri-City flirted with a shutout but lost it late in the ninth. Closer Jorge De Leon allowed a one-out single to Cameron Rupp and walked the next batter, but had a chance to escape the inning with a ground ball. Healey fielded the ball and threw to Orloff to get one out, but Orloff's relay to first sailed past Burnett. Rupp came home on the errant throw.
Murillo Gouvea and Travis Blankenship each pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the hosts.
The ValleyCats look to sweep the Crosscutters and extend their winning streak to five games tomorrow morning. The getaway matinée begins at 11 am.