Defenders Fall 18-6/ Series 0-1
May 8, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
MANCHESTER, NH- A seesaw battle between to northern division rivals turned into an offensive onslaught as the Fisher Cats blew by the Defenders 18-6 in game one of the best of three series Friday night at MerchantsAuto.com Stadium.
New Hampshire's duo of 2B-Brad Emaus and 1B-Brian Dopirak put on a show as they combined to drive in ten of the Fisher Cats eighteen runs and scored eight themselves.
The Fisher Cats took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a solo shot by Emaus.
Connecticut responded in the top of third inning with a three spot as 3B-Brad Boyer slapped an RBI single to center to score Tyler LaTorre and then LF-Bobby Felmy pushed a two RBI single through the right side of the infield to give the Defenders a 3-1 edge.
In the home half of the third, New Hampshire would battle back again with a Brian Dopirak two run shot over the right field wall and tie the game at 3-3.
2B-Brock Bond drew a one out walk in the top of the fifth then scored on an RF-Eddy Martinez-Esteve RBI double. 1B-Brett Pill rewarded Martinez-Esteve by driving him in with a double down the left-field line to regain the two run lead for Connecticut, 5-3.
Dopirak and the Fisher Cats would strike again in the bottom of the fifth with Dopirak's second two run homerun of the game and tie the contest once again but this time at 5-5.
New Hampshire would then pull away as they plated four in the sixth, three in the seventh and slammed the door shut with six in the eighth inning. Dopirak finished the night 5 for 6 night, two homeruns, two doubles, a triple and eight RBI.
Dan Griffin (2-1) suffered his first loss for the Defenders turning in 2.2 innings, allowed four earned runs off of four hits, walked one and struck out a pair. The Fisher Cat's LHP-Rommie Lewis (1-2) hurled just one scoreless inning, walked two in route to his first win of the season.
Tomorrow's game two matchup has the Defenders RHP-Henry Sosa (1-0) facing New Hampshire's LHP-Marc Rzepcynski (5-1). First pitch is slated for 1:05pm. Catch all the action starting with the Defenders Pre-game Show on the Defenders Flagship Station WICH 1310AM or online at ctdefenders.com.
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Eastern League Stories from May 8, 2009
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