Carpenter Hurls Two-Hit Shutout in Game One; Rock Cats Split Twin Bill

Published on April 21, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats and Portland Sea Dogs split Tuesday evening's doubleheader, with the Rock Cats defeating Portland in Game One by the score of 4-0 and the Red Sox's Eastern League partner returning the favor with an 8-1 in Game Two.

The Cats' were threatening early in first after Portland starter RHP Justin Haley gave up two walks and hit C Tom Murphy with a pitch, all with two outs. DH Noel Cuevas ran the count full on Haley but the right hander battled back and recorded the strikeout to squash the rally.

Both Haley and Rock Cats starter LHP Ryan Carpenter traded scoreless frames until New Britain struck with bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the fourth.

Cuevas, who doubled down the right field line with one out, and 1B Will Swanner both came home on a line drive from 2B Juan Ciriaco. The following batter, CF David Dahl, sent a bouncing ball that was misplayed by 2B Carlos Asuaje and allowed 3B Jayson Langfels to score from second. Haley's last batter of the night, RF Tyler Massey, singled to left to score Ciriaco to make it a 4-0 game and that was enough for Billy McMillon, the former big-leaguer and Sea Dogs manager.

Carpenter was very sharp in his first victory of 2015 - allowing just two hits en route to the seven inning shutout. The big southpaw walked just one and struck out seven to improve his record to 1-2.

Haley falls to 0-2 on the season after being knocked out in the fourth inning. The Rock Cats tagged him for four runs, all earned, on four hits while walking three, striking out three and also hit three batters.

Game Two

The nightcap saw the Sea Dogs take aim at New Britain starter RHP Gus Schlosser and they leaped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning.

A pair of two-run doubles from 2B Reid Gragnani and CF Blake Tekotte quickly put the Rock Cats at a deficit and a sacrifice fly by 1B Jantzen Witte in the top half of the second that scored SS Mike Miller widened the gap by one.

Three more runs for Portland in the fourth put the visitors up by the score of 8-0.

After relief appearances by LHP Jason Gurka and LHP Kraig Sitton, RHP Devin Burke made his Rock Cats debut out of the bullpen. The Darien, CT native worked a scoreless sixth, walking one and striking out one.

New Britain would not be shutout on the night as pinch hitter Juan Ciriaco laced an RBI single into left-center off of RHP Simon Mercedes in the bottom of the sixth. Ciriaco had a great night at the plate - putting up two RBI in the first game and plating another to make it an 8-1 game.

Portland starter, LHP Robby Scott, made his first start of 2015 and just the second start of his five year professional career. The southpaw did a great job in the spot start - allowing just three hits, no walks and four strikeouts. Mercedes's three inning relief appearance earned him the win, his first of the season (1-0).

Schlosser suffered the loss, falling to 1-2 in his second start with the Cats'. The left hander worked two innings, allowing five runs, all earned, on four hits while walking two and striking out two.

New Britain sends RHP Shane Carle to the hill for Wednesday's 10:35 a.m. game. Portland counters with RHP Luis Diaz in the battle of the rubber game.

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Eastern League Stories from April 21, 2015


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