June 17, 2021: ValleyCats Fall in Pitchers' Duel
LITTLE FALLS, NJ - The Tri-City ValleyCats (4-14) took on the New Jersey Jackals (12-7) on Thursday night in the rubber match of a midweek three-game set. The game marked the final stop in Tri-City's week-long tour of New Jersey after visiting Sussex County over the weekend. The game featured
*LITTLE FALLS, NJ - *The Tri-City ValleyCats (4-14) took on the New Jersey Jackals (12-7) on Thursday night in the rubber match of a midweek three-game set. The game marked the final stop in Tri-City's week-long tour of New Jersey after visiting Sussex County over the weekend.
The game featured a stellar pitching matchup, causing the two teams to hold each other scoreless until the seventh. New Jersey starter, right-hander Jared Milch, would throw one hundred and one pitches over seven innings of work, allowing zero runs, five hits, walking one, and striking out eight. Right-hander Austin Cline would be equally as brilliant for the 'Cats, tossing six frames of five-hit, zero-run ball.
Right-hander Ryan McKay would come on in relief of Cline, surrendering the first run of the game on a Riley Mihalik home run, the first batter he faced. The long ball would be the only run surrendered by McKay. The following frame, Tri-City would plate two on an RBI single by Oscar Campos to take the lead. In the bottom of the eighth, the ValleyCats would call on right-hander Turner Larkins (0-1), to protect the one-run lead. Larkins was activated on Wednesday, and would be making his ValleyCats debut after spending the first two weeks of the season on the injured list. He allowed two runs on three hits, including a two-RBI triple by Riley Mihalik, in one inning of work.
New Jersey closer Dylan Brammer (3-0) would earn the win, despite blowing the save. After being called into the game two-outs ahead of schedule, Brammer was able to set down the ValleyCats in order in the ninth to earn the win.
FINAL: New Jersey 3, Tri-City 2
W: Dylan Brammer (3-0)
L: Turner Larkins (0-1)
Tri-City returns to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium Friday night to begin an extended homestand with a visit from the Sussex County Miners. Click Here for tickets.