Records Fall in Rock Cats Comeback Win over Fisher Cats

Published on September 1, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - New Britain is not going down without a fight in its quest for the Eastern League playoffs. The Rock Cats made history on its way to a 7-3 come-from-behind victory over New Hampshire before 5,855 fans at a lively New Britain Stadium on Saturday night.

Aaron Hicks led off the bottom of the sixth with a triple - tying the franchise record with 10 triples in a single-season. Chris Herrmann followed with a base hit that scored Hicks for the Rock Cats' first run of the night. It was also Hicks' 97th run scored of the season, which set a new all-time single-season franchise record.

"It's an honor to be a guy who holds a record now," said Hicks. "It's fun."

The Rock Cats kept things rolling from that point, with Oswaldo Arcia following with a base hit of his own. That brought Chris Colabello to the plate. Colabello, in search of one RBI to tie the single-season franchise RBI record, had brought the crowd to its feet with a long fly ball out in the first inning. This time, Colabello came through with a line drive single into center field that scored Herrmann to tie the game, 2-2 and tie the single-season franchise RBI record of 97.

"I tried to keep it out of my mind but it's obviously a nice honor to have," said Colabello. "Anyhting I can do to help the team win games, especially this late in the year when we are in a playoff race is goodI didn't even realize that was the RBI to tie (the record). Everyone is trying to get me to 100. I've got three more to."

To make the feat more memorable was the fact that Colabello, a Massachusetts native, had his family in the stands cheering him on. His mother was perhaps the loudest and most thrilled of them all when the record was tied.

"It's been unbelievable. To think of how fortunate I've been to play this close to my hometown, to have family around almost on a nightly basis, when things get rough, it's always nice to look up and see familiar faces. I play this game as much for them as I do for myself."

The sixth-inning offensive outburst continued with a two-out, two-run single by Deibinson Romero that put the Rock Cats on top, 4-2.

Hicks put his name atop another franchise record with his 11th triple in the seventh. Herrmann knocked him in with a single into center to extend the lead, 5-2, and put Hicks' new record at 98 runs scored. With two outs, Colabello had an opportunity to break the RBI record but worked a walk instead. Josmil Pinto then knocked in two more runs with a double into left field to give the Rock Cats some breathing room.

It was the Fisher Cats who got on the board first, with a run in the third inning. Koby Clemens doubled with one out and moved to third on a single by Joel Galarraga. Jake Marisnick then delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Clemens for the 1-0 lead.

Mark Sobolewski's solo shot off of Luke French to lead off the fourth put the Fisher Cats on top, 2-0.

French (4-1) wouldn't allow the Fisher Cats anything after that as he turned in another impressive start. He limited the Fisher Cats to two runs on four hits in 7 2/3 innings.

The Fisher Cats loaded the bases in the ninth to make things interesting but Bruce Pugh came on with two outs to escape the jam. Pugh notched his ninth save.

New Hampshire's Fernando Hernandez retired the first seven batters he faced and kept the `Cats off the board until the sixth inning. Hernandez (5-8) finished with four runs on eight hits in six innings.

Hicks was more excited to talk about his team and its push for the playoffs.

"It was a good game," he said. "We fought hard. We're just trying to get into that playoff push."

History in the Making: Rock Cats 1B Chris Colabello is attempting to make franchise history in the final two games of the season. Colabello, who has tied the single-season franchise record with 97 RBI so far, can become the all-time leader and the first New Britain player to knock in 100 runs in a season. Steve Hacker also had 97 RBI in 1999OF Aaron Hicks has set new franchise single-season records in triples (11) and runs scored (98).

Playoff Watch: Trenton (77-62) was still in an extra innings game but remains in first place in the Eastern Division and has clinched a playoff spot. With another loss by Reading (74-66), the third-place Rock Cats (73-67) are now just one game behind the second-place Phillies with two games remaining in the regular season. The top two teams from each division make the playoffs.

ALLSTATE PLAYER OF THE GAME : CF Aaron Hicks went 2-for-4 with two triples - setting a new franchise single-season triples record with 11 - and scored two runs. He set a new runs scored record as well with 98 on the season.

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