TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValeyCats held the lead for 7.2 innings of Wednesday's mid-week series opener, but could not hold on for the win against the Aberdeen IronBirds. The Birds took home their fifth consecutive victory thanks a a late-game home run, defeating the 'Cats, 5-4, at Joseph L. Bruno
TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValeyCats held the lead for 7.2 innings of Wednesday's mid-week series opener, but could not hold on for the win against the Aberdeen IronBirds. The Birds took home their fifth consecutive victory thanks a a late-game home run, defeating the 'Cats, 5-4, at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.
Coming off a season-long seven-game road trip over six days, the ValleyCats (24-34) used an RBI ground out off the bat of Korey Lee to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, with Bryan Arias coming home after reaching on a leadoff single. Working behind four effective no-decision innings from starter Manny Ramirez, the 'Cats sent up seven to bat in the bottom of the third and extended their lead to four. Matthew Barefoot notched his first professional RBI on a double, while Lee and Juan Paulino connected on two more RBI ground outs.
With a pair of innings coming from Tri-City's Danny Cody, the IronBirds (33-26) climbed back into the game in the middle innings, using an RBI double off the bat of number one overall pick Adley Rutschman to get on the board in the fifth. Irving Ortega then stole home to make it a two-run ballgame after six innings.
After Aberdeen starter Leonardo Rodriguez gave up the game's first four runs in five innings, reliever Malachi Emond (3-2) played a large roll in the IronBirds retiring 13 consecutive batters defensively from the fifth inning until the ninth, sitting down all six batters he faced in order. The hold gave the offense a chance to take the lead, with 2018 13th round pick Andrew Fregia blasting a go-ahead, three-run home run to left off losing pitcher Blair Henley (1-1) in the top of the eighth, cementing the comeback win. Despite giving up his first professional long ball, Henley struck out five batters in 2.2 innings of work.
The IronBirds then sent out Kade Strowd to collect his second save of the season in the ninth, stranding the tying run at third in the form of pinch-runner Preston Pavlica.
Following the setback, the ValleyCats will look to even up both the mid-week and season series with Aberdeen on Thursday, August 15. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. from "The Joe".
