ABERDEEN, Md. >> As the Tri-City ValleyCats scoreless New York-Penn League Playoff opener moved into the late innings, it became apparent that one swing would probably decide things.
It did, and the swing belonged to Tri-City’s Conrad Gregor.
Gregor homered with one out in the ninth and Michael Feliz pitched seven shutout innings as the ValleyCats edged the Aberdeen Ironbirds 1-0 in the opener of their best of three series.
Conor Bierfeldt went 1-for-4, getting his lone hit the bottom of the ninth inning, before he was thrown out trying to steal second.
Tri-City’s Kyle Westwood (2-2, 0.81 regular season) opposes Hunter Harvey (0-1, 2.25) in Game 2 Saturday night at Bruno Stadium.
Aberdeen right hander Sebastian Vader blanked Tri-City for eight innings, but was lifted after getting the first out in the ninth. Gregor then sent an 0-1 pitch from reliever Donnie Hart (0-1) over the wall in right center.
“I knew a lefty was going to come in and come right at me,” Gregor said. “I knew once he got that first strike he was probably going to come with something off speed, and luckily for me the ball hit the bat and the rest is history.”
Chris Munnelly (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win. Gonzalo Sanudo got the save, allowing a pair of singles sandwiched around a caught stealing in the ninth.
“Very good game. Well-pitched from both sides, a well-played game,” ValleyCats manager Ed Romero said of the tense opener.
“We’ve been doing this since we’ve been in the hunt for the division. Same thing with them. I think this is a very good experience for both sides, for all the players.”
Feliz, who led the league with a 1.96 earned run average, allowed three singles, while striking out eight with no walks. He didn’t allow a runner to get to third base.
“He’s been lights out like that all year long,” Gregor said. “He’s a big-game pitcher. He’s got a great fastball. What I really like tonight was his ability to mix that slider and off speed pitch in and keep the hitters off balance.”
TriCity threatened in the eighth when Jake Rodriguez and Chan Moon singled, but the rally stalled as Vader rebounded to strike out James Ramsay and Ryan Dineen grounded out.
Vader hasn’t lost since July 19. He allowed five hits, struck out six, and didn’t walk a batter before being lifted with two left-handed hitters coming up in the ninth.
“I did all I could,” he said. “I pitched probably the best game I’ve pitched in my life.”
He retired the first nine ValleyCats before Ramsay led off the fourth with a double and went to third on a ground out by Dineen. With the infield in, Tyler White hit a smash, but right at Aberdeen second baseman Justin Viele for an out, and Gregor grounded out.
In the seventh, White and Gregor singled with one out before Vader retired Ronnie Mitchell and pinch hitter Yonathan Mejia.
Feliz pitched out of trouble in the third and fifth innings.
After Federico Castagnini singled to open the third, Viele hit into a fielder’s choice and stole second, but Feliz retired the next two hitters on a fly to center and a strikeout to end the threat.
In the fifth, Austin Wynns singled and, with one out, stole second. After Castagnini flied out, Feliz hit Viele to put runners on first and second. He fanned Manny Hernandez for the third out.
“It’s pretty much the same thing he’s been doing all year,” Romero said. “Fastball, moving the ball in and out. He’s pitching well inside. He’s using his breaking ball more mid-game. He kept the ball down.”
