A tale of two series in one

Prior to the start of the Tri-City Valleycats' series vs. the State College Spikes, the team learned they would be without manager Ozney Guillen for the first two games, as the NY-Penn League handed down a two-game suspension against Guillen, stemming from an ejection from the June 23 game vs. Vermont, in which Guillen turned the air blue against the plate umpire.

Former manager Jason Bell, now a minor league fundamentals coordinator for the Houston Astros, returned to Troy to fill in for the two nights, and the 'Cats won both games, extending their winning streak to a season best four in a row heading into Friday's series finale.

Starting pitcher Kyle Serrano, on a rehab assignment from Quad Cities, pitched the first inning only, retiring the Spikes in order. That meant he was, as the trend goes in the majors of late, a opener, and the 'Cats had to go to the bullpen a wee bit earlier than necessary. Or was that the plan all along?

In any event, Blair Henley took over in the 2nd, and kept State College off the board. Henley, however, went four innings due to pitch count, giving up just two hits while walking one and striking out four. In the meantime, the Valleycats took an early 2-0 lead in the home third. Preston Pavlica walked, and moved to third on a double by A. J. Lee. E. P. Reese brought both runners home with a base hit, but when Spikes catcher Carlos Soto couldn't handle the throw to the plate, Reese moved to second on the error. Reese, however, was picked off second by State College starter Emmanuel Solano to end the frame.

Had Henley stayed in the game past the fifth, the Spikes would've spent their last worthless evening in Troy, drowning their sorrows at the Sunset Grill while reading Roger Angell's The Boys of Summer before leaving in a New York minute for their next game. Instead, Guillen made a tactical error by summoning Jayson Schroeder from the 'pen for the sixth inning. Now, I get that the NY-PL is a developmental league, but it seems Schroeder hasn't progressed all that much this season, as if he was getting his advice from Dr. Lucy Van Pelt instead of his pitching coach, John Kovalik.

Roughly translated, Schroeder was in trouble almost immediately. After getting Martin Figueroa to foul out to first to start the inning, Schroeder walked David Vinsky. After Jonatan Machado reached on a fielder's choice, Moises Castillo did the same, as Vinsky was erased. Soto, then, atoned for his miscue earlier by launching a three run homer to right to put State College up, 3-2.

Schroder hung around until the eighth, and went 2 2/3, giving up the three runs on two hits, four walks, and a strikeout. State College added what they hoped was an insurance run in the ninth off Shea Barry, but then, the 'Cats do have this habit of walking off the opposition this season.

Unfortunately, a ninth inning rally for Tri-City against Spikes closer Leonardo Taveras only tied the game. Taveras, a flame thrower, was wild. The Valleycats tied the game with just one hit, two walks, and two hit batsmen, sending the game into extras after Lee popped to first to end the ninth.

State College touched up Barry for two runs in the tenth, and Junior Gonzalez shut down the 'Cats to close it out, with the Spikes leaving town with a 6-4 win. At least they can say they're going home to Happy Valley.

Tri-City hits the road tonight, opening a three game series in Connecticut before returning Wednesday to host Lowell. The schedule makers didn't do the 'Cats any favors again this year, with just four Saturday night home games, one each in July & August. It's not like the racing season at Saratoga is siphoning off attendance, because it isn't, but it's just the quirks of minor league baseball.