ValleyCats Ryan Hartman tossed 3.1 innings of relief, striking out six batters to earn his first victory of the season. Photo by Gabe Rodriguez/LOD
The Tri-City Valley Cats entered the rubber game of their three game series with the Lowell Spinners trailing Red Sox Class-A affiliate by two games in the standings for first place in the NY Penn League Stedler Division.
In the top of the first, the Spinners jumped to an early 1-0 lead after an RBI double off the bat of Tucker Tubbs.
After a scoreless second, the ValleyCats tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third on a ground-out double play scoring Alexander De Goti from third base. Then in the fourth, Ryne Birk doubled to lead off the inning and came around to put Tri-City up 2-1, on an RBI single off the bat of Chuckie Robinson.
In the top of the fifth, the Spinners tied the game at 2-2, when C.J. Chatham hit a sac fly to right field scoring Andy Perez, who doubled to lead off the inning.
But the ValleyCats would not be denied, especially with the opportunity to pull back within a game of first, as they added a run in the bottom of the sixth when Birk scored his second run of the game on a wild pitch from Brad Stone.
Ryan Hartman earned his first victory on the season tossing 3.1 innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits and six strikeouts, and Kevin Hill recorded his first save with three scoreless innings of one hit ball.
With the victory the ValleyCats improved to 24-20 and tied with the Connecticut Tigers for second place and with the loss the Lowell Spinners dropped to 25-19 and lead bot the Tigers and the ValleyCats by a game.
Game Photo Gallery – Photos by Gabe Rodriguez/LOD
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