Defenders capture Northern Division Title
August 29, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
HARRISBURG, PA- With the magic number just one to clinch the Northern Division Title, Connecticut (78-54) wasted no time reeling it in as they split a doubleheader with Harrisburg Saturday night by the final of 5-3 and 0-1 from Metro Bank Park.
Connecticut drew back to back walks in the first inning in game one and 1B-Brett Pill took full advantage as he blasted a two RBI double into the left centerfield alleyway.
The 2-0 lead would be short lived as SS-Freddie Bynum led off the home half of the inning with a single followed by a 2B-Jemel Spearman two run homerun over the leftfield wall.
Tied at 2-2, the Defenders regained the lead in the third as they batted around to deliver a big inning. CF-Mike McBryde tripled to leadoff and scored on Pill's RBI single, his 100th of the season and third of the game. RF-Eddy Martinez-Esteve singled with one out, Castro walked and SS-Sharlon Schoop smacked a two RBI single to right field to push Connecticut in front 5-2.
Harrisburg had a chance to even things up in the fifth with the bases loaded but managed only one run when 1B-Chris Marrero drew a walk but that was all.
Connecticut reliever LHP-Joe Paterson (5-6) earned the win hurling 1.1 scoreless innings allowing one hit, walked one and fanned one. Senators' starter LHP-Matt Chico (2-4) took the loss allowing five earned runs off of eight hits, walked four and struck out two in 4.1 innings of work.
Game two saw more of a pitchers duel between the Defenders LHP-Ben Snyder (3-4) and the Sens' RHP-Jesse Estrada as both traded zeros through five.
In the sixth, Snyder pitched himself into a jam walking 3B-Matt Whitney and hitting Marrero, all with two outs. LF-Marvin Lowrance wasted no time delivering the game winning RBI single on the first pitch he saw. Besides the mistake, Snyder was great allowing just three hits over six strong innings, walked three and fanned five.
Senators' reliever RHP- Drew Storen pitched a 1, 2, 3 seventh to earn his eighth save of the season while reliever LHP-Atahualpa Severino (5-0) remained undefeated allowing one hit and striking out one in one scoreless inning of work.
Connecticut and Harrisburg will make a quick turn around for tomorrow's game three matchup that has Defenders' LHP-Jesse English (7-7) versus the Senators' LHP-Aaron Thompson (0-2).
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