TROY, N.Y. (August 28, 2026) – The Tri-City ValleyCats jumped out early and pulled away late, handing the Down East Bird Dawgs a 10-4 defeat at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium Friday night as Gabriel Barrett dealt seven scoreless innings to drop Down East to 43-50, setting up a pivotal Saturday that includes the completion of Thursday's suspended game and a seven-inning Game Five.

Tri-City wasted no time as Dylan Broderick launched a two-run homer in the first before adding two more in the fourth on a Max Mandler error-aided score and a Daniel Stephens RBI single. Mandler added an RBI single in the fifth before the ValleyCats put the game away with three more in the seventh on a wild pitch and two bases-loaded walks to lead 8-0.

Down East rallied in the eighth as Kalae Harrison and Jacob Corson each singled in runs, Lyle Miller-Green scored on an error, and Yeniel Laboy was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to cut the deficit to 8-4, but Tri-City answered with two more in the bottom half to close out the 10-4 final.

Rolando Heredia-Bustos (3-6) took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits over five innings with five strikeouts and no walks.

Barrett (1-4) was dominant for Tri-City, tossing seven scoreless innings on four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. Wyatt Cameron collected his ninth save, allowing one hit over 1⅓ innings with one strikeout.

The Bird Dawgs (43-50) return to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium Saturday, August 29, beginning with the completion of Thursday's suspended game at 5 p.m. ET, followed approximately 30 minutes later by the seven-inning Game Five.