Valley Cats Defeat Division Rivals Spinners In Extra Innings

Entering the game against rival Lowell Spinners, the Valley Cats trailed behind by 13 games in the division. However, the Valley Cats defeated the Lowell Spinners 5-4 on September 5, 2008,
Starting Pitcher David Duncan took the mound, pitching a scoreless first inning. The Spinners got out to an early lead in the top of the second inning with First Baseman Ricardo Burgos leading off with a double. Burgos scored on an error by Valley Cat’s Centerfielder, J.B. shuck.

After an inning and a half, the Spinners led 1-0. In the bottom of the second inning the Valley Cats struck back with a run of their own due to Designated Hitter David Flores, who hit a solo home run tying the game at 1-1.

For the fourth inning the Spinners scored three runs, starting with a leadoff double by Right Fielder Mitch Dening, who moved to third base on a sacrifice fly by Catcher Ryan Lavarnway with a walk to Burgos Will Middlebrooks scored on a double by Left Fielder Kade Keowen to cap it all off with the Spinners leading 4-1.

The Valley Cats came back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring another home run by Flores and giving him two home runs in the game. In the next two innings neither team scored a run until the bottom of the sixth, when Phil Disher made the game tying run on a wild pitch after a single by Right Fielder Jonathon Gaston and Left Fielder Marques Williams struck out to end the threat. The Valley Cats came all the way back tying the game at 4-4.

Neither team scored a run within regulation. The game went into extra innings. Leading off the bottom of the tenth inning, Simunic reached third base on a misplayed ball by Center Fielder Peter Hissey. The Spinners walked both Disher and Jason Castro to load the bases, hoping to cut off the winning run from scoring.

Coming to the plate was Flores, only to connect with a fastball and hit it out of the park, giving him three home runs.