KINSTON, N.C. (July 31, 2026) – Stephen DiTomaso homered to lead off the first and delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the eighth as the Down East Bird Dawgs snapped their eight-game losing streak with a gutty 5-4 victory over the Tri-City ValleyCats at Historic Grainger Stadium Friday night, improving to 29-41 and ending their longest skid of the season.

DiTomaso led off the bottom of the first with his first homer of the season to put Down East ahead 1-0 before Jacob Corson added a solo shot and Tyler Blaum drove in a run on an infield single in the sixth to extend the lead to 3-0.

The ValleyCats rallied in the eighth on an Ian Walters two-run double and a Ranko Stevanovic RBI single to tie it at 3-3, but the Bird Dawgs answered immediately as Kenny Levari drove in a run on a fielder's choice and DiTomaso added an RBI single to restore a 5-3 advantage.

Dylan Broderick singled home a run in the ninth to make it interesting, but the Bird Dawgs held on for the 5-4 final.

Tanner Duncan delivered 3⅓ scoreless innings in a spot start, allowing one hit with three walks and two strikeouts. Greg Martinez (1-2) earned the win, allowing one run on three hits over the final 1⅓ innings with one strikeout.

Chad Gartland started for Tri-City, allowing three runs on nine hits over six innings with three strikeouts and two walks. Brayhans Barreto (1-4) took the loss, surrendering two unearned runs on one hit and one walk in the eighth.

The Bird Dawgs (29-41) look to build on the win Saturday, August 1, at 7 p.m. against the ValleyCats at Historic Grainger Stadium.