Problems in the bullpen cause ValleyCats to fail in series opener against the Miners

Tommy Valentine and Adam Cohen

1 hour ago

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Tri-City ValleyCats (16-21) held a 4-2 lead until the eighth inning in Friday’s series opener against the Sussex County Miners (14-22) at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. But a three-run home run by Evan Giordano capped a five-run inning that lifted the Miners to an 8-5 victory while the ValleyCats lost their sixth straight game.

Sussex County broke the scoreless victory in the third inning. Giordano hit a single against Chas Cywin. Willie Escala laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Giordano to second base, and then he was brought home by a single by Gabriel Maciel, giving the Miners a 1-0 lead.

Sussex County extended its lead in the fourth when Gavin Stupienski hit a solo home run to extend the Miners’ lead to 2-0.

Tri-City caught up in the sixth inning. Jaxon Hallmark and Javeyan Williams both got walks from Mike Reagan to start the inning. Oscar Campos hit a single that brought Hallmark home, and Williams went to third base. Campos moved to second base after getting out of a rundown after his RBI hit. Two batters later, Kyle Novak hit a two-run single to center off Eston Stull to give the ValleyCats a 3-2 lead.

Tri-City doubled its lead in the seventh inning. Robbie Merced hit a single, stole a base and reached third on a wild pitch. Alec Olund brought Merced in with a single, giving the ValleyCats a 4-2 lead.

However, Sussex County came back in the eighth inning when manager Greg Tagert brought Gino Sabatine out of the bullpen. Cory Acton and Oraj Anu hit singles against Sabatine. Stupienski hit an RBI double and a throwing error by Olund allowed Anu to score, tying the game. Alec Sayre worked a walk, leading to Giordano’s three-run blast that brought the game to 7-4.

Reagan received a no decision. He pitched 5.1 innings, allowed three runs on three hits, walked four and had five strikeouts.

Cywin also received a no-decision. He went seven innings, allowed two runs on seven hits, walked two and had two strikeouts. In his best and longest start of the 2024 season, he struck out 10 batters in a row from the fourth to the seventh inning.

Acton hit a home run in the ninth inning to give the Miners an 8-4 lead.

Robbie Hitt walked Merced in the ninth inning, who stole second and third base. Hallmark and Williams also got free passes to load the bases without anyone out. Olund hit into a 6-4-3 double play and Merced came to the point, cutting the deficit to 8-5. Hitt induced a flyout by Campos to seal Sussex County’s victory.

Stull (2-0) took the win. He pitched 1.2 innings, allowed one run on four hits and struck out five times.

Sabatine (2-1) was blamed for the loss. He pitched two innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on eight hits, one walk and one strikeout.

Tri-City will play the middle game against Sussex County on Saturday, June 22^andThe first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.