'Cats Comeback From Large Deficit Before Falling at Boulders
PONOMA, NY - Trailing 8-0 to the Boulders, the Tri-City ValleyCats made a furious comeback to hold an 10-8 lead before falling 11-10 on Saturday night.
The Boulders (50-38), now winners of five in-a-row, scored four runs in the first on their way to an 8-0 lead through four innings.
Tri-City (49-39), on the back-end of a ten-game road trip, got back into the contest with a six-run sixth. With three runs already scored in the inning, Tri-City rightfielder Carson McCusker stepped to the plate. He launched a three-run home run to center field to cap off the rally. The ValleyCats, sitting atop the Frontier League with 153 home runs on the season, took the lead with four runs in the top of the seventh. Third baseman Pavin Parks plated two of the runs with a single to center.
After the fans at Clover Stadium sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", centerfielder Max Smith cleared the fence in right to tie the game at 10.
Infielder Jake McKenzie gave the Boulders the 11-10 lead in the eighth with an RBI single through the left-side.
Down to its final out, Tri-City got the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base but was unable get the big hit to score them.
Catcher Austin Elder (3-for-3) and shortstop Cito Culver (3-for-5) each registered three hits and scored two runs to pace the 'Cats. Second baseman Brantley Bell, the league leader in batting average, added two hits and two runs scored, while Parks and McCusker recorded three RBI apiece.
Six Boulders tallied multiple hits tonight. Smith finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI, while McKenzie went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
The teams, both battling for a spot in the playoffs, conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. The 4:00 pm contest will wrap up the longest road trip of the summer for the 'Cats, looking to end a four-game slide. Tri-City returns home on Tuesday, August 30 to host the Sussex County Miners at 6:30 pm. Get your tickets to support the 'Cats in their push for the postseason by calling (518) 629-2287, going online, or stopping by the box office.