Defenders Win 12-6
September 4, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- Connecticut fell behind early in the Friday night's ball game against Reading, but perseverance paid off as the Defenders battled back for a 12-6 win in front of 6,520 fans at Dodd Stadium.
Connecticut's CF-Mike McBryde hit a 2-run homerun to cap off a four run second inning giving the Defenders the lead for good as they cruised to a game one victory.
The R-Phils scored four runs of their own to start the ball game off in the first. 3B-Neil Sellers batting against LHP-Ben Snyder with two aboard sent a towering homerun over the left field wall pushing Reading out in front 4-0.
LF-Brad Boyer may as well have had the hit of the night, his chopper back to the mound in the bottom of the first inning was fielded cleanly by RHP-Vance Worley but Boyer was able to leg it out for an infield hit. 1B-Brett Pill crushed the first pitch from Worley to left field to record his 18th homer of the season, cutting the lead in half at 4-2.
RF-Bobby Felmy hit a solo homerun (7) to kick off the scoring in the second inning. 3B-Sharlon Schoop singled and C-Tyler LaTorre reached on an error. 2B-Brock Bond then tied the game up with an RBI ground out, setting up McBryde's blast and Connecticut led 6-4.
Things would begin to unravel for Reading in the fifth, the league's top fielding club committed to two errors as the Defenders added four more runs. Sharlon Schoop's suicide squeeze bunt was laid down perfectly on the third base side scoring Boyer for their seventh run of the game. LaTorre added an RBI single to right field which resulted in a RF-Domonic Brown throwing error scoring Schoop. LaTorre scored the final run of the inning on 2B-Ozzie Chavez's throwing error, as he tried to retire Snyder at first. Connecticut after taking advantage of the R'Phils miscues had a 10-5 lead.
Brock Bond added an RBI triple in the seventh inning and Sharlon Schoop drove in his second run of the night with a RBI single in the eighth putting the Defenders ahead 12-6.
Despite the first inning struggles Connecticut's starter Ben Snyder (4-4) picked up the win tossing six innings allowing five runs off of seven hits. Vance Worley (7-12) was touched up for 10 runs, five of which were earned giving up eleven hits over five innings of work taking the loss.
Reading and Connecticut will play two games tomorrow beginning at 5:05pm at Dodd Stadium. Game one's match up will be RHP-Daryl Maday (6-5) for the Defenders as he'll go up against the R-Rhil's LHP- Yahon Flande (3-4). Game two is still TBA for Connecticut as Reading will toss RHP-Alex Concepcion (2-3).
Saturday is a Giants T-shirt Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans through the gates as well as "Saturday With Your Buds," which has specials on Budweiser.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Defenders Box Office at (860)-887-7962 or online at ctdefenders.com.
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