Cats Fall Short, 4-3 In Series Opener With Sea Dogs

Published on May 4, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - New Britain had a shot at another come-from-behind win but came up short, 4-3 to visiting Portland on Friday night.

"That was a disappointing loss tonight," said manager Jeff Smith. "That was a tough one."

The Rock Cats took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Deibinson Romero led off the inning with a base hit into center and scored on Nate Hanson's one-out single. In the second, the `Cats tacked on another run when Wilkin Ramirez drilled a triple into center field and scored on a groundout by Chris Herrmann.

Rock Cats starter Logan Darnell kept the Sea Dogs off the board until the fourth inning. Darnell (3-1) issued a leadoff walk to Derrik Gibson before serving up a single to Kolbrin Vitek to put runners on the corners. Gibson scored on sacrifice fly by Juan Carlos Linares to close the gap, 2-1. Oscar Tejeda then crushed a two-run home run off the scoreboard to put the Sea Dogs on top, 3-2.

Gibson knocked in Ryan Dent, who reached base on a fielding error by shortstop Pedro Florimon, on a groundout in the fifth.

The bullpen duo of Lester Oliveros and Daniel Turpen kept the Rock Cats within striking distance with three shutout innings combined in relief. Oliveros struck out five in two innings or work.

"The bullpen pitched great tonight. They had electric stuff," said Smith.

The Rock Cats had a chance at tying the game in the bottom of the ninth. Romero started the inning off by working the count full and drawing a free-pass. He was lifted for pinch runner Estarlin De Los Santos. Florimon struck out before Hanson grounded into a force out to third base that retired De Los Santos at second. Smith sent top prospect Aaron Hicks to the plate as a pinch hitter but he was called out on strikes to end the game.

"We have to control our own destiny," said Smith. "We need to execute the fundamentals."

Chris Martin(2-2) scattered six hits while allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings for Portland. Caleb Clay notched his second save with four strikeouts in 1 2/3 shutout innings in relief.

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