Tanielu leads ValleyCats to victory in Vermont

BURLINGTON, VT-Infielder Nick Tanielu's career-game led the Tri-City ValleyCats to a 12-4 road victory over the Vermont Lake Monsters on Tuesday night.

Tanielu, the Houston Astros' 14th round pick in this season's MLB Draft, went 4-5 with two doubles, a home run and three runs scored as the ValleyCats earned their third consecutive victory, and fifth straight against the Lake Monsters.

The Washington State alum got the scoring started in the top of the first inning with a two-out single that scored J.D. Davis and A.J. Reed. Then, in the top of the fourth, he led of with a double before scoring on right fielder Ariel Ovando's single two batters later. After doubling and scoring again in the seventh inning, Tanielu capped off his outstanding night in the eighth when he drove a 1-1 pitch from Vermont right-hander Tyler Hollstegge over the left field wall for a three-run home run, his first long ball as a professional.

While Tanielu stood out, he was far from the only offensive contributor for the ValleyCats. Ovando, who hit a home run in the sixth inning, finished 2-5 with three runs batted in, while Davis (2-4 with three runs scored), Terrell Joyce (2-4 with a double, two runs and two runs batted in) and Bobby Boyd (2-6) also produced multi-hit games.

On the mound, starting pitcher Troy Scribner (2-1) earned the win for Tri-City. The right-hander threw five frames, allowing only one earned run off of three hits while striking out five batters. He is now tied for first in the New York-Penn League with 22 strikeouts on the season.

The ValleyCats will conclude the three-game set, and eight-game road trip against Vermont tomorrow. Getting the start for Tri-City will be LHP Sebastian Kessay (1-0, 3.38). He will face Lake Monsters RHP Christhian Perez (4.50, 1-0).

Following the game, the 'Cats will have a day off on Thursday before returning home to "The Joe" and hosting the Lowell Spinners, the affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, on the Fourth of July at 6:30pm.

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