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EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Back-and-Forth Affair Ends on Sour Note for Jimenez, Fisher Cats

May 4, 2014 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - In an exciting back-and-forth affair, the Fisher Cats scored twice in extra innings only to watch the New Britain Rock Cats answer each time, eventually grabbing a walk-off 6-5 victory in 12 innings. The defeat is the third straight for the Fisher Cats (12-15), leaving them in need of a win on Sunday to avoid a sweep to the Rock Cats (9-17).

The back-and-forth started right away with Jimenez in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Jimenez launched his first home run off the video board in left field. New Britain evened it up in the bottom of the first when starter Aaron Sanchez committed a balk with Corey Wimberly at third base.

In the third, the Fisher Cats retook the lead when Andy Burns singled home Brian Van Kirk. But the Rock Cats, an inning later, went on top for the first time thanks to a two-run homer by Mike Kvasnicka.

That was all that Sanchez allowed through 5.1 innings. He struggled with command, throwing 88 pitches, but only 44 for strikes. He gave up three runs on four this with four walks and a pair of strikeouts.

The Fisher Cats evened the game up in the sixth against New Britain starter Pat Dean. Jimenez started the rally with a double. Then, with two outs, Michael Crouse singled him home to even the game at 3-3.

That's where it stayed for both teams through the regulation nine innings, but each team took a different path to extra innings. The Fisher Cats didn't have a base runner over the final three frames. New Britain put a man to scoring position in the seventh and the ninth, and they had the bases loaded in the eighth but could not score.

Both teams scored in the tenth. Jon Berti plated Kevin Nolan to give the Fisher Cats a 4-3 lead. With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Kennys Vargas blasted his second homer of the series against John Anderson to tie the game at 4-4.

In the 12th, the Fisher Cats went on top again, scoring a run on an error by shortstop Corey Wimberly. But in the bottom of the frame, Wimberly led New Britain's winning rally with a single to right against Richard Bleier (L; 1-3). Two batters later, Tony Thomas cleared the left-field wall with a home run to make New Britain 6-5 winners.

The home run by Thomas was the first hit with runners in scoring position for the Rock Cats. They finished 1-for-12 while the Fisher Cats were just 2-for-13 in those situations.

Jimenez led a 12-hit attack going 3-4, falling a triple short of the cycle. Berti and Crouse also had multi-hit nights in the loss for the Fisher Cats.

The series comes to an end on Sunday afternoon with a 1:35 matinee. Deck McGuire goes for his fourth in against New Britain righty Virgil Vazquez. Tom Gauthier will have the radio call beginning at 1:15 p.m. on WGIR 610 AM and www.nhfishercats.com.

After the weekend in Connecticut, the Fisher Cats are back home on Monday for a three-game set against the Binghamton Mets (New York Mets). The series includes a night to recognize youngsters who complete the Northeast Delta Dental Oral Health Challenge on Monday, a Hood Kids Club night on Tuesday, and Manchester Schools Day at 10:35 a.m. on Wednesday. Tickets are available at the team box office, by calling (603) 641-2005, and by visiting www.nhfishercats.com.

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