Rock Cats Snap Five Game Skid; Bounce RubberDucks 5-3
June 6, 2015 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release
New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats defeated the Akron RubberDucks by the score of 5-3 on Saturday evening at New Britain Stadium.
LHP Ryan Carpenter was dealing - recording seven strikeouts over seven innings - tying a season-high. The tall southpaw allowed two runs on four hits while walking two. He improves to 4-5, while the Rock Cats bullpen worked the final two innings. RHP Austin House converted his league-leading 17th save.
Fans were treated to a pitcher's duel, complimented by some tremendous defensive plays, to preserve the scoreless contest through the first 5 1/2 innings. 2B Pat Valaika made a stop worthy of a "Web Gem" nomination to record the first out of the top of the third. With SS Tony Wolters on first, 1B Justin Toole sent a shot up the middle that was destined for the outfield - had it not been for a diving Valaika, who made the stop and flipped the ball with his glove to record the force out.
The Rock Cats broke through the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting up three runs on Akron starter LHP Shawn Morimando. RBI singles from both C Tom Murphy and 2B Pat Valaika and a bases-loaded, 6-4-3 double play groundout by DH Juan Ciriaco still allowed SS Trevor Story to come home from third, giving the home club a 3-0 lead.
An RBI triple courtesy of 3B Jayson Langfels scored RF Dean Espy, who walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh, increasing the home lead by one. Story chipped in with an RBI single two batters later to score Langfels, making it a 5-0 ballgame.
The RubberDucks got on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth, getting two back off of Carpenter. Saturday's starter allowed a lead-off walk and single before he was lifted for RHP Carlos Estevez and with both of those runners scoring - the runs were attributed back to Carpenter.
Akron appeared to be mounting the comeback in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with one out against Rock Cats closer RHP Austin House. A sacrifice fly to deep center from C Jeremy Lucas put the visitors within two runs but it would be too little, too late.
RHP Shane Carle starts on the hill for the Rock Cats on Sunday afternoon and will square off against Akron RHP Mike Clevinger. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m.
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