TROY – Tri-City ValleyCats rookie Robbie Merced, whose first professional hit was a home run on June 14, outdid himself with his second career homer on Thursday night.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Merced smashed a one-out pitch over the leftfield fence for a walk-off two-run homer in an 11-10 victory over the Schaumburg Boomers before 2,657 fans at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.
It was the seventh professional game for Merced, an infielder and outfielder who joined the team out of Central Methodist, an NAIA school in Fayette, Mo.
“I mean, I’ve got to give it to these guys,” Merced said. “They’ve been nothing but helpful, helping me transition to this level. I’ve always known I had the skill, but them having my back, it definitely helps. I’ve got to give all the thanks to them.”
The ValleyCats (24-18) took two of three from Schaumburg (25-16), which has been to the last two Frontier League championship series.
Merced, the son of former big-league player Orlando Merced, said it was the second walk-off homer of his life. The first came two years ago as a Central Methodist junior.
The stage was set Thursday when Tri-City pinch-hitter Rafi Vazquez, normally a pitcher, pinch-hit and delivered a broken-bat infield single to second. After Pavin Parks struck out, Mered drove a 1-1 pitch from Schaumburg reliever Dylan Stutsman 360 feet to left for the victory.
“Well, 0-0, I should have took a strike, but I ended up swinging at the first pitch,” Merced said. “And then he threw a ball for the second one. At that point, I was just looking for a good pitch to hit, get in scoring position and turn it over to the next guy. Fortunately, it went over the fence, so we didn’t need anybody else.”
ValleyCats manager Pete Incaviglia said he sees Merced getting better.
“There’s a learning curve he’s going to have to go through,”…
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