Defenders Come From Behind For 10-7 Win Over Rock Cats
September 10, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- On probably the chilliest day in September thus far, the Defenders still found a way to remain red hot, as they needed to battle back to take game two of the best of five series from New Britain 10-7 Thursday night at Dodd Stadium in front of a crowd of 4,018.
With two down and one out in the fifth, LF-Brad Boyer lifted a soaring homerun (1) just inside the right field foul pole to regain the lead and Connecticut held on tightly to place them one win away from a series victory.
Connecticut grabbed the early lead once again in the first. Back to back single by CF-Mike McBryde and 1B-Brett Pill placed runners on the corners. Boyer then pulled a slow grounder to second base and McBryde scored easily from third.
The Rock Cats quickly responded in the second, taking advantage of a SS-Brandon Crawford error. With two outs, 1B-Whit Robbins delivered an RBI single to even things at one a piece.
New Britain drummed up a two out rally in the third receiving back to back singles by 3B-Ramon Santana and DH-Erik Lis. C-Wilson Ramos made Defenders' starter RHP-Daryl Maday pay with a three run homer over the right centerfield wall to give the Rock Cats their first lead of the series at 4-1.
With moment on the side of the opposition for the first time all series, Connecticut flexed their first place muscles in the home half of the inning. A one out walk by 2B-Brock Bond, single by McBryde and an RBI single by Pill cut the lead in half. DH-Eddy Martinez-Esteve then delivered three run bomb (2) over the left centerfield wall, his second three run homer of the series, to put the Defenders in front once again 5-4.
The fifth inning saw the Rock Cats remain hungry and capitalize on a wild pitch strike out as Ramos ripped an RBI single to score CF-Brandon Roberts who reached on the miscue and evened things up again.
Connecticut added to their 7-5 lead in the sixth. Back to back singles with one out set up C-Jackson Williams who pulled a two run double down the leftfield line. Williams would spend little time aboard as Bond slapped an RBI single into centerfield and the Defenders took a comfortable 10-5 edge.
New Britain would add a run in the seventh but once again made things interesting in the ninth. Pinch hitter Yangervis Solarte led off the inning with a three base error on CF-Mike McBryde who misread a laser shot. Solarte would score on a soft grounder to third and make the Defenders lead just three. Ramos delivered a two out double then Dinkleman drew a walk to bring the representing tying run to the plate. After a pitching change, New Britain manager Tom Nieto countered by bringing up switch hitter Alejandro Machado to face off against the righty Geivy Garcia. Things didn't work out as well as Garcia struck out Machado looking to earn his first save of the post season.
Defenders' reliever LHP-Alex Hinshaw (1-0) picked up the win tossing two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and struck out a pair. Rock Cats' starter RHP-Matt Fox (0-1) suffered the loss allowing six earned runs off of six hits, walked two and fanned five.
The series will shift gears to New Britain tomorrow with Connecticut up 2 games to none. The game three matchup has Connecticut LHP-Craig Clark making his Double-A debut against the Rock Cats' LHP-Ryan Mullins. First pitch is slated for 6:35pm from New Britain Stadium.
Fans can catch all the action on the Defenders Flagship Station WICH 1310AM or online at ctdefenders.com.
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