Tri-City Strikes Gold Twice, Take Two From Sussex County

TROY, NY - The Sussex County Miners and Tri-City ValleyCats faced off in a double header following Tuesday's postponement on Wednesday evening at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

Tri-City would give Ryan Williamson the start in game one, opposing him was right hander Dwayne Marshall. Both pitchers were strong early on, neither starter gave up a run in the first two innings of play.

After Williamson retired the Miners in order in the top half of the third inning, it would be Tri-City who got on the board first. Designated hitter Denis Phipps launched a solo home run deep over the left field fence to give the 'Cats the early 1-0 lead.

In the top half of the fourth inning, the first two Miners batsmen would reach base safely, putting Williamson in a jam. He would strike out former ValleyCat Juan Silverio and Edwin Mateo, and subsequently walk David Maberry to load the bases with two outs. Miners catcher Isaias Quiroz would be the third strikeout victim of the inning, stranding the bases loaded.

Following a quiet home half of the fourth inning, Sussex County would come roaring back in the top of the fifth. Adam Hofacket would enter the game, walk Nilo Rijo to lead off the inning, but ValleyCats catcher Austin Elder would fire a strike to second to catch Rijo stealing. Hofacket would walk both Martin Figueroa and Willie Escala to put two runners on with nobody out. An infield single off the bat of Jawuan Harris would load the bases for Juan Silverio. The Miners third baseman would double down the left field line, emptying the bases and giving Sussex County the 3-2 lead.

Brac Warren would retire the Miners in order during the road half of the sixth inning, bringing Tri-City up to the plate in the bottom half of the inning down by a run.

Jesus Lujano would lead the inning off with a single and would advance to second on a wild pitch. Following a Joey Campagna strike out, Austin Elder would be hit by a pitch, bringing Cito Culver to the plate. The former Miner would double down the right field line off reliever James Mulry, plating Lujano and tying the game. Brantley Bell would then give Tri-City the lead with one swing of the bat, a towering three-run blast to break the game open. Pavin Parks would add to the lead, going back to back with Bell, hitting a towering solo home run to right field, giving Trey Cochran-Gill a four run cushion heading into the top of the seventh inning.

The 'Cats closer would surrender a leadoff single to Figueroa, but would strike out Willie Escala for the first out of the inning. First baseman Yanio Perez would be clipped by a Cochran-Gill slider, putting two runners on with one out. Jawuan Harris would line out for the second out of the inning. Juan Silverio would record his third hit of the game, a single to load the bases with two outs, bringing pinch hitter Alex Toral. Cochran-Gill would induce a flyout to end the game, stranding the bases loaded.

FINAL | (50-40) TRI-CITY 7 (52-39) SUSSEX COUNTY 3

W: BRAC WARREN (5-0)

L: JAMES MULRY (7-7)

SV: NONE

GAME TWO

TROY, NY - In front of a sold out crowd at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, the nightcap of the double header between the Sussex County Miners and Tri-City ValleyCats featured a battle between right handed starter Joey Gonzalez and lefty Michael Mediavilla.

Gonzalez would allow one hit over three innings, a single to Martin Figueroa to lead off game two. Mediavilla fired three perfect innings to start his outing, striking out seven of the first nine 'Cats he faced.

The Miners offense would come to life against the ValleyCats ace during the top half of the fourth inning, scoring six runs in the inning. An RBI single off the bat of Jawuan Harris would get the scoring started for the visiting Miners. A two-RBI ground rule double off the bat of Edwin Mateo added to the lead, and a three-run blast from first baseman Alex Toral capped the scoring off in the fourth for the Miners.

Tri-City would end Mediavilla's perfect game bid when Cito Culver would double to lead off the fourth inning. Following a Brantley Bell ground out that allowed Culver to advance to third. Third baseman Pavin Parks would single to drive the shortstop in to score, cutting into the Miners lead.

The combination of Joey Gonzalez and Olbis Parra would hold the Sussex County offense scoreless the remainder of the contest.

Tri-City would score another run in the fifth, an RBI single from Joey Campagna plated Carson McCusker from second base, chipping away at Sussex's lead.

In the bottom half of the seventh inning, first baseman Brad Zunica would lead off the inning with a flyout. McCusker would then reach on a Willie Escala error, giving Tri-City life in the bottom half of the final inning. Jesus Lujanon lined out sharply to Oraj Anu in left field for the second out of the inning. Campagna would record his second hit of the night, a single back up the middle to put runners on the corners with two away. Catcher Austin Bernard's broken bat single plated McCusker, bringing Cito Culver to the plate representing the tying run. The ValleyCats shortstop would hit a towering three-run blast into the 'Cats bullpen to tie the game at six. Following a Brantley Bell walk, Pavin Parks popped out to Silverio at third to end the inning.

In the top half of the eighth inning, Parra would strand the go-ahead run on third base following a great play by Brantley Bell to end the inning, giving Tri-City the chance to walk it off in the bottom half of the inning.

Tyler Thornton entered the game out of the bullpen for the Miners, facing Denis Phipps to start the inning. The designated hitter would ground out, advancing Pavin Parks, who started the inning as the international tie breaker runner, to third. Miners skipper Bobby Jones would intentionally walk Brad Zunica bringing Carson McCusker to the plate. On an 0-2 count, the ValleyCats right fielder hit a towering blast over the left center field fence, capping off the improbable nine unanswered run comeback.

FINAL | (51-40) TRI-CITY 9 (52-40) SUSSEX COUNTY 6

W: OLBIS PARRA (4-3)

L: TYLER THORNTON (1-3)

SV: NONE

ATTENDANCE: 4,512

The ValleyCats and Sussex County Miners wrap up their mid-week series tomorrow night at The Joe! It is also Throwback Thursday, The FIRST 500 FANS at the ballpark will receive a commemorative 20th Season Card Set! Postgame fireworks presented by Price Chopper & Market 32 are also set to commence following the conclusion of the game. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM. Get your tickets today by calling 518-629-CATS, visiting the team’s box office, or logging on to tcvalleycats.com