Wednesday, August 22, 2018

A Cyclone without a storm (Brooklyn @ Tri-City, 8/21/18)

It was hockey night at Joe Bruno Stadium on Tuesday night, and a baseball game broke out.

With the obligatory joke out of the way, the Tri-City Valleycats sported special Team USA hockey style uniforms for Tuesday's game vs. the Brooklyn Cyclones, with proceeds to benefit the MS Foundation. Having snapped a four game losing streak in beating Brooklyn on Monday, the 'Cats sought to maintain the late season momentum with two weeks left in the regular season.

With one out in the home 1st, Enmanuel Valdez doubled into the gap in left center, and came around on a single by Carlos Machado to give Tri-City an early 1-0 lead. In the 2nd, with the hosts now up, 2-0, Drew Ferguson, on an injury rehab assignment and his 2nd stint with the 'Cats (he was drafted by Houston in 2015), slammed a 2 run homer into the berm in left center, scoring Andy Pineda ahead of him. Ferguson figures to be going back up the ladder in short order.

In the 4th, Michael Wielansky belted his 2nd homer of the year in virtually the same area as Ferguson's bomb to increase the lead to 5-0.

Both starters, Tri-City's Brett Daniels and Brooklyn's Jose Butto, were lifted after 4 innings. Brooklyn reliever Tommy Wright shut down the Valleycats the rest of the way, and all told, each side registered 10 total strikeouts. Shawn Dubin, the 2nd 'Cats pitcher, picked up the win with three strong innings of relief. Daniels had not allowed a hit in his 4 innings, giving up just a walk while fanning three. Dubin gave up a run on three hits while walking two and striking out three. Matt Moclair was shaky, giving up a run on his own error in the 8th, and walked three. Luis DePaula picked up the save in the 9th.

In the spirit of the night, the 'Cats used the theme music from NBC's NHL broadcasts, and put up a goal light on the video board when the 'Cats scored. You had to be there.

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