Phillips goes 3-for-5 with RBI, but Fisher Cats fall, 4-2, to Defenders
Published on April 10, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release
Manchester, NH- Kyle Phillips went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI, but the Connecticut Defenders spoiled the New Hampshire Fisher Cats' home opener, 4-2, before 5,914 fans Thursday night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.
Adam Witter (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB) hit his third home run of the season, a two-run bomb off Fisher Cats' starter Scott Richmond in the top of the first inning, to stake Connecticut (5-2) to a 2-0 lead.
New Hampshire (0-6) answered back in the home half of the first inning when Scott Campbell (2-for-5, R) singled, Eric Nielsen (1-for-4, BB) walked and Phillips lined a two-out single off Defenders' starter Garrett Broshuis, scoring Campbell to make it 2-1.
The Fisher Cats tied it, 2-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning when Ryan Klosterman (1-for-2, 2B, R, 2 BB) led off with a double, Campbell singled and Broshuis' wild pitch allowed Klosterman to come home from third.
The Defenders used a two-out rally to break up the deadlock in the top of the fifth inning. Travis Ishikawa (2-for-4, 2 R) singled, Witter walked and Carlos Sosa (4-for-4, RBI) drove in Ishikawa with a single to right, knocking Richmond (0-2) out of the game. Simon Klink (1-for-3, RBI, BB) greeted reliever Kyle Yates (2.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 K) with a single off the wall in rightfield, bringing in Witter.
Richmond was charged with four runs in 4.2 innings. The right-hander issued six hits, struck out five and walked three to suffer his second straight defeat to the Defenders.
Connecticut reliever Steve Palazzolo (1-0) pitched 1.2 shutout innings to register his first career Eastern League victory. The righty struck out two and walked two. Palazzolo teamed up with fellow relievers Justin Hedrick (2.0 IP), Ryan Sadowski (1.0 IP) and Sergio Romo (1.0 IP) to throw 5.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, with Romo retiring the side in order in the ninth inning for his third save -all against New Hampshire.
Defenders' relievers have a 0.53 ERA (17.1. IP-1 ER) against the Fisher Cats this season.
New Hampshire looks to bounce back Friday night at 6:35pm when right-hander Brandon Magee (0-1, 5.40) takes the mound against Connecticut right-hander Dave McKae (1-0, 0.00). Radio coverage begins at 6:15pm on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network with Bob Lipman and Mike Murphy.
Friday night is the first Atlas Fireworks Show of the season. To purchase tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005.
NOTE: Before the game, Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky, New Hampshire Fisher Cats majority owner Art Solomon, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch and Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame on the main concourse at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. Pesky threw out the season's ceremonial first pitch and signed autographs in the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame during the game.
Eastern League Stories from April 10, 2008
- Baysox Best Aeros in Home Opener, 7-5 - Akron RubberDucks
- Phillips goes 3-for-5 with RBI, but Fisher Cats fall, 4-2, to Defenders - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- B-Mets Lose Wild One In Erie - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Harrisburg spoils Trenton's home-opener in 3-1 win over Thunder Thursday night - Trenton Thunder
- Defenders Win 4-2 - Connecticut Defenders
- Aeros Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Steelers Kicker Jeff Reed Added To Curve Appearance Schedule - Altoona Curve
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