Rock Cats Defeat Trenton 7-2
May 28, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release
NEW BRITAIN - The Rock Cats pounced on Trenton righty Ryan Pope for six first inning runs en route to a 7-2 victory in front of 6,408 Thurday morning at New Britain Stadium to stave off a sweep in the finale of a three-game set.
The win halted a three-game skid for the Rock Cats and brought their record to the .500-mark at 23-23. With the loss, the Thunder dropped to 22-22.
Centerfielder Steve Tolleson led off the home half of the opening frame with a double down the left field line and later scored when rightfielder Rene Tosoni ripped a two-out, bases clearing triple to right-center. Following an error by Trenton first baseman Kevin Smith, Rock Cats shortstop Yancarlos Ortiz sliced the inning's second three-bagger into the gap in left-center and came home on a single by catcher Danny Lehmann.
Pope didn't come out to the mound again after the first and a slew of pitchers from the Trenton bullpen were successful in keeping New Britain's offense at bay following the rough first. The seventh and final run for the Rock Cats came across in the bottom of the sixth when Tolleson sent another double down the leftfield line with two outs and came home on a single from second baseman Brian Dinkelman.
New Britain starter Matt Fox tossed seven scoreless innings to notch his fourth victory in 10 starts in 2009. Fox struck out three and didn't walk a single batter for his third win in his last three outings.
Fox was replaced by husky righthander Frank Mata in the eighth who promptly yielded a pair of runs on two walks and two doubles to Trenton's Colin Curtis and Chris Malec. Jose Lugo supplanted Mata and was able to retire all three Thunder hitters he faced to put a stop to Trenton's only real threat.
Rob Delaney closed out the win for the Rock Cats on just eight pitches, inducing a groundout back to the mound to end the contest.
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