TROY — The Tri-City ValleyCats scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to get past the Albany Dutchmen 5-4 in an exhibition game Wednesday, June 15, at Joseph Bruno Stadium.
Tri-City third baseman Kolbey Carpenter doubled home left fielder Brauly Mejia for the tying run and scored the go-ahead run on right fielder Luis Payano’s single. Dylan James picked up the save by tossing a scoreless ninth inning.
Albany built a 4-2 lead in the top of the second inning. Malcolm Nachmanoff, Bray Curreri and JJ Shimko all walked to load the bases for Jon Skidmore, who hit a ground ball that was misplayed by third baseman Randy Cesar. Nachmanoff and Curreri scored on the play to put the Dutchmen — of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League — ahead 3-2. Justin Childers added a single that drove in Shimko with the third run of the inning.
Daz Cameron hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fifth inning for Tri-City — of the New York-Penn League — to pull the ValleyCats within one run.
Shimko — the reigning PGCBL Player of the Week — had a pair of hits for Albany.
The Dutchmen return to league action Thursday, June 16, when they host the Utica Blue Sox at Bob Bellizzi Field. The ValleyCats begin the New York-Penn League season Friday, June 17, with the first of two home games against the Connecticut Tigers.
