June 11, 2021: ValleyCats Drop Twin Bill to the Miners

AUGUSTA, NJ - Following Thursday night's walkoff win against the New York Boulders, the Tri-City ValleyCats (3-10) departed Joseph L. Bruno Stadium before Friday's doubleheader against MLB veteran Todd Frazier and the Sussex County Miners (11-2).

GAME 1: Sussex County 5, Tri-City 0 - Final/7

Baseball fans were out in full force as Sussex County welcomed MLB veteran, Home Run Derby Champion, and current Olympian Todd Frazier to Skylands Stadium for his Miners debut after agreeing to join the team earlier this week. Frazier, sporting his familiar number twenty-one, went hitless in three at-bats from the five spot, but flashed the leather at third base throughout game one.

Left-hander Mike Castellani (2-0) dazzled on the mound for Sussex County, throwing a complete-game shutout, allowing five hits, walking one, and striking out three. Right-hander Parker Kelly (1-2), coming off of a strong start at home against the Jackals on Sunday afternoon, took the mound for the 'Cats. Kelly tossed six innings, surrendering seven hits, two earned runs, and striking out three. After struggling early, Kelly was able to bounce back to hold Sussex County, but Castellani proved to be too much for the ValleyCats' bats.

The highlight of the Tri-City offense was recent signee Mike Gulino notching two hits in three at-bats. Gulino was the only ValleyCat to record a multiple-hit game, and was one of only four 'Cats to record a hit against Castellani.

The Sussex County offense struck early, tallying one run in the first frame, and three in the second. Sussex County would add one more in the bottom of the fourth to seal their game one victory. Two of the Miners' five runs were earned, while the remaining three runs were allowed to cross due to three defensive errors committed by Tri-City.

GAME 2: Sussex County 14, Tri-City 8 - Final/7

Shortly after the conclusion of Sussex County's win in game one, the ValleyCats and Miners took the field once again, this time without Todd Frazier, for the finale of tonight's doubleheader at Skylands Stadium.

The Miners sent right-hander Maddux Conger to the mound looking to replicate the brilliance of game one starter Mike Castellani. Conger struggled early, surrendering five earned runs on two hits and four walks over one inning pitched. He would be replaced in the top of the second frame by right-hander Tyler Kovalewich (1-0), who would surrender three runs over three and one-third innings, surrendering three hits, while walking and striking out two.

Tri-City would also experience pitching problems early in the game. Right-hander Nick White would only last one and one-third of an inning, surrendering four runs on two hits. He would be replaced by Daniel Kreuzer (0-1), making his ValleyCats debut after being activated earlier this afternoon. Kreuzer tossed one and two-thirds of an inning, surrendering four hits and two earned runs. The 'Cats would call on two more relievers, Eddy Tavarez (one inning pitched) and Donnie Speranza (two innings pitched), who would both allow two earned runs each as the 'Cats looked to mount a late comeback.

After a hot start, including a three-run home run to left-center field by Juan Silverio, and an RBI single by Mike Gulino, the ValleyCats offense stalled late in the game, tallying just two hits and zero runs in the last two and two-thirds innings of Friday's twin bill.

Tri-City continues their week-long tour of New Jersey tomorrow in Augusta, before returning to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium next week to begin an extended home stand with a three-game set against the Sussex County Miners. Click Here for tickets.