Valley Cats retun home, win 7-0

TROY, N.Y. » The Tri-City ValleyCats secured a 7-0 win over the State College Spikes in their first game against the Pinckney division this year. Parker Mushinski secured the win in relief for the ‘Cats, while Anthony Shew suffered his second loss of the year.

The tone was set by Tri-City’s starter Hunter Martin, who made his first start of the year, after three appearances out of the bullpen. Martin went four inning, allowing one hit and zero runs, while striking out two and walking two.

The Valley Cats helped out their starter with a third inning offensive explosion. Luis Payano got things started with an RBI double, before Abraham Toro-Hernandez drove in two more on a soft single to right field. Jake Adams added his fourth home run of the year as well, bringing in two more runs and giving the ‘Cats a 5-0 lead.

The Valley Cats would add some insurance in the eighth in-

ning, when they got runners on the corners, with no one out. A wild pitch by Noel Gonzalez helped score the runner from third making it 6-0 Valley Cats. Michael Papierski was able to

add another run on an RBI sac fly making it 7-0 ‘Cats.

The relief tandem of Parker Mushinski and Nathan Thompson was key for the ‘Cats, as they were able to largely hold the Spikes at bay for much of the game. Mushinski pitched three scoreless innings, and struck out six batters, while Thompson

allowed no hits and struck out four over two innings.

Despite the five runs in the third inning, Shew settled down, and ended up going six and two thirds innings, allowing five runs and seven hits, while striking out six batters and walking one. Noel Gonzales pitched in relief, going 1.1 innings, allowing one

hit and two runs, while walking three and striking out zero.

The Valley Cats will host the Spikes for the second game of a three game set at 7:00 pm on Thursday for Christmas in July at the Joesph L. Bruno staidum. On Friday, the Valley Cats will travel to Batavia for a 7:05 p.m. game.