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TROY, NY – In front of a sellout crowd, which included mostly children, the ValleyCats were going for the series win against the Lake Erie Crushers on Thursday morning.
Tri-City hosted it’s annual Education Day, but the kids had to wait a bit longer for the game to start, due to a rain delay.
“We had a tough loss last night, but we know what we’re able to do and we had to play again today,” said ValleyCats veteran Denis Phipps on returns to play this morning after a night game on Wednesday. “When you have fans in the stands, you play with more intensity. That was great to see all those kids here.”
The ValleyCats won their second straight series by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers 10-6 on Thursday, May 19 in the rubber game. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats played a morning game, where they hosted area children for Education Day, on May 19, 2022 against the Lake Erie Crushers. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats won their second straight series by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers 10-6 on Thursday, May 19 in the rubber game. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats played a morning game, where they hosted area children for Education Day, on May 19, 2022 against the Lake Erie Crushers. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats played a morning game, where they hosted area children for Education Day, on May 19, 2022 against the Lake Erie Crushers. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats played a morning game, where they hosted area children for Education Day, on May 19, 2022 against the Lake Erie Crushers. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats played a morning game, where they hosted area children for Education Day, on May 19, 2022 against the Lake Erie Crushers. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats played a morning game, where they hosted area children for Education Day, on May 19, 2022 against the Lake Erie Crushers. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats played a morning game, where they hosted area children for Education Day, on May 19, 2022 against the Lake Erie Crushers. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats won their second straight series by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers 10-6 on Thursday, May 19 in the rubber game. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats won their second straight series by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers 10-6 on Thursday, May 19 in the rubber game. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats won their second straight series by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers 10-6 on Thursday, May 19 in the rubber game. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats won their second straight series by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers 10-6 on Thursday, May 19 in the rubber game. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats won their second straight series by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers 10-6 on Thursday, May 19 in the rubber game. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats won their second straight series by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers 10-6 on Thursday, May 19 in the rubber game. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats won their second straight series by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers 10-6 on Thursday, May 19 in the rubber game. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats won their second straight series by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers 10-6 on Thursday, May 19 in the rubber game. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats won their second straight series by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers 10-6 on Thursday, May 19 in the rubber game. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats won their second straight series by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers 10-6 on Thursday, May 19 in the rubber game. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
The ValleyCats progressively got their bats going, coming away with a 10-6 victory against the Lake Erie Crushers.
With the win, the ‘Cats (4-2) took two-out-of-three from Lake Erie and have won each of their first two series, getting off to a much better start than they did last season.
“We lost five guys in spring training last year that were pretty good players and this year we only lost one,” said ValleyCats manager Pete Incaviglia. “We kept the team together and they’re starting to gel a little bit.”
“Last year we started real slow. This year we’re able to start the way we wanted,” Phipps added.
First pitch ended up being delayed just under an hour. The Crushers came out with two runs in the top of the first inning and the ValleyCats tied things up in the bottom of the second. They tacked on a run in each the third, fourth and fifth innings, blowing the game open with four runs in the sixth.
“We were ready from the start. They said, ‘lets try to play five innings’ and we made it through,” Phipps said. “We have a good team. Everyone brings something to the table. It’s not just one guy.”
Phipps powered the offense by going 4-for-4 at the plate, with two home runs, a double and four RBI.
Jonah Girand, a catcher who was traded to the ValleyCats by the Crushers on May 5, went 2-for-4 with a solo home run.
“I’m sure that felt pretty good since that’s the team he came from,” Incaviglia said. “It’s always good to have a good day at the plate against the team that was going to release you and ended up trading you away.”
“I’m starting to warm up. I changed my swing a little bit and felt good today,” Girand added. “I just kind of simplified everything and stayed through the zone a little bit longer and it worked out.”
Brantley Bell and Jesus Lujano each collected two hits in the win.
Adam Hofacket picked up the win in two and two-thirds innings of relief. He allowed one hit and one walk, striking out four.
“Coming in late from being traded, I didn’t really get a chance to get to know these guys. I’m trying to learn as quick as I can,” Girand said of coming to the ValleyCats and learning the pitching staff on short notice. “We go out to the bullpen and really discuss strategy and what they like best. It’s a collective effort of coming together and learning from each other.”
The Windy City Thunderbolts will come to Troy for a three game series beginning Friday at 7 p.m.
With the early start on Thursday, that left the ValleyCats with the rest of the day open.
“I think I’m gonna go home and take a nap,” Incaviglia said. “I’m gonna take a nap.”
Joseph L. Bruno Stadium Troy, NY LAKE ERIE 2-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-3 — 6-10-2 TRI-CITY 0-2-1-1-1-4-0-1-X — 10-14-0 WP: Adam Hofacket (1-0); LP: Julio Vivas HR: Denis Phipps 2 (TC), Jonah Girand (TC), Bryant Flete (LE)
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