skip navigation

BOULDERS SALVAGE SERIES FINALE WITH VALLEY CATS

By New York Boulders Baseball, 08/19/21, 11:00PM EDT

Share

The New York Boulders grabbed an early lead and went on to salvage the final game of their three-game series against the Atlantic Division leading Tri-City Valley Cats with a 5-2 win on Thursday at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy.

The victory moved the Boulders back to within 3½ games of the Valley Cats in the Atlantic Division race.

New York starter Robby Rowland and reliever James Mulry combined to allow only five hits, while striking out a 13 Valley Cats in the win.

New York took advantage of Tri-City starter Bruce Bell’s first inning wildness to score three runs. Jack Sundberg and Kevonte Mitchell opened the game with singles – each would eventually score on wild pitches. The Boulders’ third run of the frame came on an RBI single by Ray Hernandez that scored Zach Kirtley.

Bell would settle in after that, pitching into the sixth inning when he was relieved with two outs by Patrick Murphy.  Bell allowed eight hits and just those three first inning runs. He walked two and struck out three.

Meanwhile, his Valley Cats’ teammates chipped away at the Boulders’ lead. In the bottom of the first, an infield single by Brad Zunica scored Zach Biermann to make it 3-1; then, in the fourth, Juan Silverio hit a solo home run, his 11th of the year to make it a 3-2 game.

Those were the only runs surrendered by Rowland, who went 5 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and two runs to go along with three walks and seven strikeouts before yielding to Mulry, who finished out the game with 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, surrendering two hits and striking out six.

Meanwhile, Murphy kept the Boulders at bat until the ninth inning when he walked Phil Capra leading off the stanza. Milton Smith, Jr. then beat out an attempted sacrifice bunt attempt before Sundberg followed with another bunt try.

The ball was fielded by third baseman Chris Kwitzer, whose throw to first was mishandled by second baseman Luis Roman, who was covering on the play. Capra scored on the mishap to make it a 4-2 game, while Smith, Jr. advanced to third.

A Mitchell sacrifice fly scored Smith, Jr. to give New York a 5-2 advantage.

Rowland picked up the win for New York, evening his season mark at 1-1, while Mulry recorded his first save of the year.

Bell took the loss for Tri-City. It was his first decision of the season.