Despite clinching the division (in a loss) on Monday night, the Tri-City ValleyCats have hit a rough skid in the regular season's final two weeks.

After a 2-1 loss on Tuesday to the Vermont Lake Monsters, the 'Cats have lost three straight games and six of their last seven.

Ricky Gingras provided the only RBI of the night for Tri-City (Gregory J. Fisher/Tri-City ValleyCats).
Ricky Gingras provided the only RBI of the night for Tri-City (Gregory J. Fisher/Tri-City ValleyCats).
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The offense has been the issue for the 'Cats, as Tri-City mustered just five hits last night and was 1-10 with runners in scoring position. They also couldn't take advantage of four Lake Monsters errors. Their only run came when Ricky Gingras doubled home Jamie Ritchie in the bottom of the seventh.

The Gatos, who are looking to win their second straight New York-Penn League title, did get a solid pitching performance from the trio of Francis Ramirez, Randall Fant, and Derick Velazquez. They combined for nine strikeouts and no walks on the evening.

Tri-City is in a precarious position now with six games left in the regular season. The ValleyCats have been battling with Hudson Valley for the league's best record and for playoff home-field advantage, but now they need to hold off the State College Spikes for the two seed as well.

The loss dropped the ValleyCats into a tie with the Spikes, and both are two games behind Hudson Valley.

Tri-City is 43-27 overall this season.

*The ValleyCats wore special "Jockey themed" jerseys last night, as part of their "Dark Tuesday promotion."

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