Defenders sweep Rock Cats for second time
June 29, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NEW BRITAIN, CT- Coming into Monday's matchup, Connecticut (44-31) had only swept one series all season long but now they have two after a 6-3 win over interstate rival New Britain. Both series' sweeps for the Defenders have been against the Rock Cats (5/11-5/13).
The Defenders offense wasted no time building a lead as they scored four runs off of six hits in the first inning. Four RBI singles by 1B-Brett Pill, RF-Eddy Martinez-Esteve, LF-Ramon Castro and SS-Brandon Crawford helped build the confidence for the entire team as they captured the sweep.
In the fourth, back to back singles put 2B-Brock Bond in scoring position and Martinez-Esteve delivered his second RBI single of the game to drive the score to 5-0 Connecticut. That would be all for Rock Cats' starter RHP-Carlos Gutierrez (1-2) as he left the ballgame allowing five earned runs off of ten hits, walked one and struck out a pair in the loss. New Britain responded in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own, taking advantage of a Bond error (7) as 2B-Brian Dinkleman ripped an RBI single to drive in RF-Rene Tosoni who reached on the miscue.
Connecticut kept rolling in the fifth, getting a leadoff double by Castro who scored on a Crawford RBI single to increase the lead to 6-1. Yet again, New Britain mustered some runs across the plate as they used three hits and a walk to score two runs and cut the lead in half 6-3 but that was as close as they would get.
Defenders' starter RHP-Tim Alderson (4-1) kept the Rock Cats lineup off balanced but used his defense a ton to help pick up this fourth win of the season. Alderson allowed three runs-two earned off of seven hits and walked a pair in five innings of work. Joe Paterson came in and picked up his second consecutive save of the series to grow his season total to nine.
Brock Bond extended his on base streak to 44 games going 3 for 5 with two runs scored. The streak is the currently the longest active one in MLB and Minor League Baseball.
The Defenders head home to Dodd Stadium tomorrow and welcome the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals) into town for a four game series. The Nationals will send infielder Dmitri Young and pitcher Matt Chico to do MLB Rehab stints during the series against Connecticut.
Eastern League Stories from June 29, 2009
- Baysox Bombs Cripple Curve - Chesapeake Baysox
- Owen Sets Season Highs, Thole Strikes Winning Blow in 1-0 Extra-Inning Win - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- B-Mets split series, win 1-0 in 10 innings - Akron RubberDucks
- Defenders sweep Rock Cats for second time - Connecticut Defenders
- Rock Cats fall to Defenders, 6-3 - New Britain Rock Cats
- Baysox win series finale at Altoona, 5-1 - Altoona Curve
- Cooper homers, scores three in loss to Sea Dogs - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Rock Cats Announce Make-up Date - New Britain Rock Cats
- Sea Dogs win 8-5 in 8 innings - Portland Sea Dogs
- Aeros Media Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Aerodynamics - Akron RubberDucks
- Robnett Promoted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre - Trenton Thunder
- Weglarz Named Player of the Week Again - Akron RubberDucks
- Find The Golden Wieters in Anne Arundel County - Chesapeake Baysox
- Reading Tops Trenton 12-2 - Trenton Thunder
- Team USA & NH Primaries Highlight 4th of July Weekend - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Eastern League Pitcher-Player of the Week - EL1
- Thunder Partners with Cancer Treatment Centers of America - Trenton Thunder
- Spradlin named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week - Harrisburg Senators
- OF Hall Placed on Disabled List - Trenton Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
