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,
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
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring
'Hungry' Alcántara hoping to pounce on big league prey in '25
MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His
Rainiers broadcaster Pay talks historic role on MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.