The ValleyCats made it interesting - real interesting - but ultimately fell short in a 5-4 series-evening loss at Batavia.
Tri-City took a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st, after Ben Orloff's leadoff double was brought in on Tyler Burnett's groundout, and three straight walks led to a run on a bases-loaded HBP by Dan Adamson. With the bases still loaded, Mike Kvasnicka grounded out to 2nd to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Batavia struck back with two singles and a walk, with Juan Castillo's single bringing home the Muckdogs' first run. That was it until the 5th inning, when Andrew Robinson allowed a single, HBP, walk, single, and walk to give the Muckdogs a 3-2 lead after five. Batavia added a run in the 7th and the 8th off Jason Chowning and Joan Belliard to give them a 5-2 lead going into the 9th.
Then it got interesting. With Telvin Nash pinch-hitting for Adam Bailey, Nash drew a leadoff walk, and Wilton Infante came in to run. Chris Wallace doubled to right to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. Dan Adamson popped out, Mike Kvasnicka grounded out, scoring Infante from 3rd, and making it a 5-3 game.
Enrique Hernandez reached on an error, putting runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs, and Jacke Healey came in to run for Hernandez. Ben Orloff's two-out single scored Wallace, but the throw from Nick Longmire (we told you to keep an eye on him) relayed from Bergmann drilled Healey - the potential tying run - at home to end the game.
Batavia's 3-4 hitters of Longmire and Rodriguez are hitting .625 and .700, respectively.
The deciding Game 3 is tonight at 7:05 in Batavia.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
