Holderbach Shines in Debut, Vermont Rallies late for 4-3 Victory

The Tri-City ValleyCats surrendered a two-run lead in the ninth inning to lose their rubber match with the Vermont Lake Monsters on Sunday evening by a score of 4-3.

Catcher Alex Holderbach laced a two-run single for his first professional hit that gave the ValleyCats a lead that stuck until the very end of the game.
Vermont's Jose Rivas roped a two-run double into right field as ValleyCats right fielder Marty Costes came within inches of making a game-saving catch with two-outs in the ninth inning.
Pitcher Luis De Paula was tagged with a blown save and the loss after he gave up all three runs in the ninth inning for Tri-City.
It was the second straight night where the ValleyCats gave up three runs in the ninth inning, as the same happened to Juan Pablo Lopez in a 6-2 loss on Saturday night.
Enmanuel Valdez gave the ValleyCats an instant 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the first inning--a lead that stuck until the fourth inning.
'Cats starter Hansel Paulino was relieved by Carlos Hiraldo after three scoreless innings, when Hiraldo threw a wild pitch that allowed Vermont's Anthony Churlin to score.
Then locked in a 1-1 tie, the ValleyCats used three straight base hits in the fifth inning to plate two runs.
After Marty Costes drew a leadoff walk, Michael Wielansky picked up his first career hit, followed by a single from Andy Pineda that loaded the bases for Alex Holderbach.
Holderbach, who was making his debut in professional baseball, then squibbed the first pitch he saw up the middle and into center field for a two-run single.
This was the ValleyCats' final hit of the game.
The Lake Monsters' bullpen went on to retire 13 of Tri-City's final 16 batters, as the ValleyCats carried their 3-1 lead into the ninth inning.
Despite looking primed for a win entering the ninth, Rivas' two-run double mounted too tall of a task for the ValleyCats to overcome.
Tri-City did get the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Lake Monsters pitcher Brandon Withers was able to strike out Holderbach for the game's final out.
Now with a record of 1-2 following their opening homestand, the ValleyCats will travel to Maryland for a three game series with the Aberdeen Ironbirds.
On Thursday the ValleyCats will then return home to play a three-game series against the Lowell Spinners at Joe Bruno stadium beginning at 7:00 p.m. on June 21st.