Arcia's 3-Run Walk-Off Blast Gives Rock Cats Win in Game 1, 8-5

Published on July 16, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - There may have been barks heard throughout New Britain Stadium during the Rock Cats' annual Bark in the Park Night but it was a battle of the `Cats on the field. New Britain's Oswaldo Arcia proved to be the top cat of them all as he slammed a three-run walk-off home run in extra innings to defeat the Fisher Cats, 8-5 in the opening game of Monday night's doubleheader against New Hampshire.

In the bottom of the ninth of a regularly scheduled seven-inning game, Aaron Hicks delivered a two-out line drive single to center and then stole his team-best 20th base. Chris Herrmann drew a walk before Arcia crushed a shot over the right field wall to give the Rock Cats the dramatic win.

It was the Fisher Cats who struck first with a run in the first inning off Logan Darnell. Ryan Goins singled with one out and Sobolewski followed with a double to put Goins 90-feet from home plate. Mike McDade then hit a fly ball that was caught by Hicks in center field. Goins scored on the sacrifice fly but Sobolewski was thrown out at third base to end the inning.

In the bottom of the frame, the Rock Cats answered back against Fernando Hernandez. Hicks led off with a double and scored on a base hit by Herrmann. Arcia followed with a single into center. Chris Colabello's fly out to center moved Herrmann to third. That brought Joe Benson to the plate. Benson laced a double into right field to knock in Herrmann for the 2-1 lead. Romero added an RBI sacrifice fly that scored Arcia.

It was New Hamsphire's turn to do damage in the third inning. Jake Marisnick delivered an RBI single and McDade added an RBI double as part of a three-run inning that tied the game, 4-4.

Benson, who was just called back up from Single-A Ft. Myers after missing time due to an injury, relied on pure hustle to help the Rock Cats score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth. Benson looked to ground into a third out with a ball hit to third baseman Mark Sobolewski. Benson hustled down the first baseline to beat out the throw, though, and keep the inning alive. A passed ball allowed Benson to move into scoring position before Deibinson Romero singled to left to knock in Benson for the go-ahead run.

Marisnick homered to lead off the seventh inning to send the game to extra innings.

Darnell finished with four runs - two earned - on 10 hits in five innings. Dakota Watts (2-0) picked up the win for the Rock Cats, with one run on three hits in two innings out of the bullpen.

Danny Barnes (0-1) suffered the loss for the Fisher Cats.

ALLSTATE PLAYER OF THE GAME :

Game 1: RF Oswaldo Arcia went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. He delivered the biggest hit of them all on the night with a three-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth.

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Eastern League Stories from July 16, 2012


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