Rock Cats Beat Reading
July 26, 2015 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release
New Britain, CT - New Britain Rock Cats closer Carlos Estevez struck out the Eastern League leader in RBI Brock Stassi with the tying run at third base Sunday afternoon, giving the Rock Cats a thrilling 5-4 win over the Reading Fightin' Phils at New Britain Stadium. It was the first time New Britain won back-to-back games since June 22-23 and their first series win since June 17-18.
The fifth save by Estevez came after a shaky 9th inning, that began when the hard throwing 22-year-old righty walked the first two batters. Destin Hood's 2-out single cut the lead to 5-4, before Stassi struck out on a 1-2 pitch to end the game.
New Britain took the early lead with two outs in the last of third. Top prospect David Dahl doubled to the gap in right-center and scored on single to right by Noel Cuevas. Rock Cats newcomer Jordan Patterson then launched a two-run homer off the light pole in right-center, his second home run since joining the club, to give New Britain a 3-0 advantage.
Reading battled back with two runs in the fifth against starting pitcher Matt Flemer, who improved to 5-7 on the campaign with the win. An RBI ground out by Angelo Mora and an RBI double by Kelly Dugan accounted for the runs.
Patterson knocked in his third run with a two-out double in the 5th inning, giving New Britain a 4-2 lead but the Fightin' Phils got that run back with Stassi's 10th home run of the season off the batting cage roof beyond the right-field wall.
Austin House, who had been the Rock Cats closer earlier in the season relieved Gus Schlosser in the 7th, pitching out of a jam with two runners on base; then tossed a scoreless top of the 8th.
New Britain scored an unearned run in the 8th inning, which turned out to be the difference in the game. Patterson was hit by a pitch and on Pat Valiaka's single to right scored on an overthrow of third base by Dugan. That set the stage for the dramatic 9th inning, that had the crowd of 2,681 standing and cheering as Stassi went down swinging to end the game.
The Rock Cats begin a 3-game road trip tomorrow night in Binghamton, New York at 6:35 PM. The Rock Cats return to New Britain Stadium on Thursday, July 30 (6:35PM) vs. the Erie Sea Wolves.
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