Troy, NY — The Tri-City ValleyCats began their final six-game home series of the regular season on Tuesday night, and with the Frontier League playoffs just around the corner, it felt like a fall evening outside at The Joe.

The chilly weather couldn’t cool the Cats’ bats. Tri-City is holding onto a playoff spot for now and definitely played like a team hungry to get back to the postseason. Fresh off a decisive weekend series win over the Boulders, the ValleyCats greeted last-place New Jersey.

The Jackals, who had nothing left to lose, played a role early in the game. Fritz Genther smashed a ball into the right center early in the second period, giving New Jersey a 1-0 lead. But in the second half, Ian Walters responded with a long ball of his own. A clear goal from Walters and the score was tied 1-1.

For the third time, it was 2-2, and Miguel Gomez was on second base, runner for the Jackals, and brought home the decisive run with a single to right, 3-2. Tri-City answered immediately. The game was back and forth the whole time. When a ball was on base, Elvis Peralta Jr. said it was his turn to hit a long ball. The ValleyCats took the lead again, 4-3.

Despite all the lead changes, it was Jaxon Hallmark’s two-run single in the eighth inning that made the difference. The ‘Cats won the first home game and the final 8-7.

Tri City (46-37) has now won four games in a row and still has a two-game lead over the Boulders for the last playoff spot in the East.