New Hampshire Hammers Harrisburg 10-2
May 31, 2016 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release
HARRISBURG - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats exploded for a win in their first game against Western Division competition in 2016, battering the Harrisburg Senators 10-2 Tuesday night at FNB Field in Harrisburg.
New Hampshire (24-26) picked up their fourth straight win despite their starting pitcher exiting after just one inning. The Senators (26-24) allowed four unearned runs on one bizarre play in the fourth inning, and never recovered their mojo after that. New Hampshire has now scored at least 10 runs in three consecutive games, matching a feat last accomplished against Reading and Portland July 3-5 in 2012.
The Fisher Cats drew first blood in the top of the first inning against Harrisburg starter Austen Williams (L, 1-6). Roemon Fields drew a one-out walk, and Dwight Smith, Jr. singled him to second base. Ryan Lavarnway drew a walk to load the bases for Rowdy Tellez, who lofted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Fields and make it 1-0 New Hampshire.
The Senators struck back in the bottom of the first against Fisher Cats starter Luis Santos. Rafael Bautista singled to lead off, and Wilmer Difo drew a walk. Isaac Ballou sliced a single to plate Bautista, and Neftali Soto grounded out to shortstop to score Difo and put Harrisburg ahead 2-1.
New Hampshire exploded in the top of the fourth. Lavarnway worked a leadoff walk, and Tellez doubled him to third. After Melky Mesa bounced out to third, Ian Parmley cracked a single up the middle, scoring Lavarnway and tying the game at 2-2. Williams then plunked Christian Lopes, loading the bases for Shane Opitz. The Fisher Cats shortstop hit a bouncer to first base, and Shawn Pleffner threw home to try to force out Tellez. However, his throw was errant, and Tellez and Parmley both made it home safely. With nobody covering second, Opitz tried to make it to second, and catcher Spencer Kieboom fired that way hoping to nab him. Kieboom's throw was way too high, though, and it rolled deep into center field. Lopes and Opitz then scored, and the Little League grand slam gave New Hampshire the 6-2 lead.
The Fisher Cats added a few more in the top of the fifth against Harrisburg reliever Derek Self, as Smith led off with a single and Lavarnway followed suit, moving Smith to third before he was thrown out trying to stretch the hit to a double. Tellez singled home Smith, and Melky Mesa singled to put runners at first and second with one out. Parmley fanned, but Lopes smoked a two-out double to score the runners and extend New Hampshire's lead to 9-2.
New Hampshire tacked on another run in the top of the seventh inning against rehabbing MLB righty Matt Belisle. Tellez blooped a one-out single to left, and with two outs, Parmley shredded a triple to center field to score Tellez and run the New Hampshire edge to 10-2.
Santos took a no-decision, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk in his only inning of work. Brady Dragmire (W, 2-4) tossed three shutout frames, allowing three hits and a walk. Danny Barnes fired three perfect innings with a season-best five strikeouts. Murphy Smith gave up just one hit over two frames, striking out one.
The Fisher Cats will look for their fifth straight win on Wednesday night, with righty Jeremy Gabryszwski starting for New Hampshire against Harrisburg right-hander Jaron Long. First pitch is at 7:00 p.m., and Ben Gellman has the call on the Fisher Cats Radio Network starting at 6:45 p.m.
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