June 26, 2021: Phipps Leads 'Cats to Victory in Game Two
TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValleyCats (9-17)looked to stay hot against the Washington Wild Things (12-16) on Saturday night for "Pride Night" at the Joe presented by Sabrett in front of a crowd oftwo-thousand four-hundred and eightfans ready for 'Cats baseball and post game fireworks presented by Price Chopper/Market 32.
*TROY, NY - *The Tri-City ValleyCats (9-17)looked to stay hot against the Washington Wild Things (12-16) on Saturday night for "Pride Night" at the Joe presented by Sabrett in front of a crowd oftwo-thousand four-hundred and eightfans ready for 'Cats baseball and post game fireworks presented by Price Chopper/Market 32.
After being activated earlier in the day, right-handed pitcher Troy Cruz, out of UCSD in La Jolla, California, made his debut with the Tri-City ValleyCats. The outing started strong, with Cruz striking out four of the first six Wild Things he faced. However, former ValleyCat Hector Roa would connect for his second home run in as many days (a two-run shot) in the second to start Washington's scoring. In the top of the next frame, the Wild Things would plate one more, prompting Tri-City manager Pete Incaviglia to end Cruz's debut ahead of schedule. Right-handed reliever Daniel Kreuzer would jog on in the third, and allow just one hit over two and a third innings of work.
Sidearm slinger Jake Dexter would relieve Kreuzer after appearing in both the rotation and bullpen over the course of Tri-City's homestand. In the sixth, the Wild Things would plate a pair, on an RBI single by Bralin Jackson and triple by Hector Roa. He would exit with two outs in the top of the sixth, and runners on first and third, making way for right-hander Francisco Jimenez. Francisco would escape the jam in one pitch, inducing a dribbler just shy of the mound that he would field and fire to first baseman Denis Phipps. Francisco would surrender one run in the outing following a double by Andrew Sohn in the seventh.
The ValleyCats would score three in the first frame, thanks to an RBI single by second baseman Phil Caulfield in his first ValleyCats at-bat, followed by a towering shot to deep left center field by last night's hero, Denis Phipps. The 'Cats would plate a pair a few innings later in the fourth, thanks to a solo shot by Willy Garcia and an RBI single by Keaton Weisz. After losing the lead in the top of the sixth, the 'Cats would retake the advantage with a solo shot to left by 'Cats infield/outfielder Carson Maxwell.
After allowing the Wild Things to tie it up in the seventh, Denis Phipps would play the role of hero once again in the bottom of the inning, with a three hundred and seventy-seven foot grand slam, his second time leaving the yard in the game. The frame would end with the ValleyCats in the lead by a score of eleven to six.
In the eighth, Ryan McKay would work into trouble, and be relieved by Tri-City southpaw Trevor Damron. Damron would allow one to score in the inning, but the run would be charged to McKay, who put the runner on base earlier in the frame.
In the top of the ninth, Tri-City closer Trey Cochran-Gill would enter the save situation to take on the hottest part of the Wild Things lineup: Jackson, Roa (who was a double shy of the cycle going into the ninth), and Czech. Jackson would reach on a Juan Silverio error. Roa would be set down on strikes. Czech would fly out to left. Cochran-Gill would set down pinch-hitter Trevor Casanova to end the game, and secure his fifth Key Bank Save of the Game!
FINAL: Tri-City 11, Washington 9
W: Francisco Jimenez (1-1)
L: John Murphy (0-2)
S: Trey Cochran-Gill (5)
Tri-City concludes their nine-game homestand tomorrow afternoon with "Bark in the Park" presented by Pinnacle Roofing and Owens Corning, and "Sunday FunDay" presented by Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York! Click here for tickets.