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Koch's Home Run Not Enough as Rock Cats Fall 9-2

August 1, 2014 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats were bested by the Erie SeaWolves by a count of 9-2 at New Britain Stadium on Friday evening.

After a scoreless first inning, the visiting SeaWolves picked up two runs on a throwing error committed by SS Jorge Polanco. Erie loaded the bases on a single, double and walk and then SS Dixon Machado grounded over to Polanco, whose throw to second for the force out sailed wide and went out into shallow right field, allowing both DH Dean Green and 3B Corey Jones to cross the plate.

The Rock Cats responded in the bottom of the second, tying the ballgame 2-2 on C Matt Koch's second home run of the season. Koch sent a laser over the left field wall off of Erie starter RHP Buck Farmer, who was making his Eastern League debut.

New Britain was forced into a bullpen game once RHP Virgil Vasquez was scratched late in the afternoon. RHP Adrian Salcedo was called upon for his third start of the season, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits while walking one and striking out three. RHP Dan Turpen, who will make his second-ever professional start on Sunday - last one came in 2011, worked a scoreless fifth before Erie struck again in the sixth.

With Rock Cats reliever LHP Ryan O'Rourke on, 2B Devon Travis turned on a pitch with one out, seeing it fly over the wall in left-center to put the SeaWolves ahead 3-2.

O'Rourke pitched into the seventh, allowing back-to-back singles before giving way to RHP Matt Summers. A sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third and then C Craig Albernaz dropped a squeeze bunt to score Jones for the second time on the night. Erie picked up one more on a CF Jason Krizan RBI single to go up 5-2.

The visitors pulled away with two more runs in both the eighth and ninth innings - ending the night scoring nine times on ten hits. SeaWolves pitching did their part by not allowing a single run or hit after the bottom of the second.

Farmer threw very well in his first game in the Eastern League - limiting New Britain to two runs, both earned, on three hits while walking two and striking out six. O'Rourke suffers the loss for the Cats', seeing his record fall to 1-3.

LHP Pat Dean starts on the hill for the Rock Cats on Saturday evening as the four game series continues. Erie gives RHP Wilsen Palacios the starting duties, with first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m.

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