Carpenter's Solid Start Doesn't Hold up in 6-2 Loss to Harrisburg

Published on June 11, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats fell to the Harrisburg Senators by the score of 6-2 in front of 5,767 fans at New Britain Stadium on Thursday morning.

Harrisburg leapt out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. CF Brian Goodwin ripped a triple just out of the reach of a diving CF Mike Tauchman and scored in the following at-bat on a 3B Matt Skole single.

New Britain responded with two runs on two hits and benefitted on a throwing error committed by 2B Ricky Hague. The Rock Cats first got on the scoreboard with a C Tom Murphy sacrifice fly to deep right, scoring Tauchman who led off with a free pass from Senators starter LHP Matthew Spann. LF Noel Cuevas drove in the Rock Cats' second run two batters later, plating SS Pat Valaika and making it a 2-1 ballgame.

The Senators evened up score the very next inning on the power of back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning against LHP Ryan Carpenter. Hague and C Pedro Severino both drove pitches near the 16' wall, the second of which scored the infielder and knotted the contest at two.

Spann appeared to be in a little bit of trouble as the game moved along to the bottom of the sixth - walking Tauchman for the second time and then the outfielder stole second to put himself in scoring position. Valaika, the following batter, sent a ball deep into the left field corner that looked like a sure hit but it was snagged at the last second by LF Derrick Robinson.

After striking out Murphy for the second out, the southpaw proceeded to walk the next two batters to load the bases and that is when manager Brian Daubach made a call to the bullpen. RHP James Simmons came on and quickly struck out 1B Will Swanner to end the threat.

Harrisburg jumped all over Rock Cats reliever RHP Jose Ortega, scoring four runs on two hits - all coming on two outs. 3B Matt Skole singled home Robinson, who walked, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch by the hard-throwing Ortega. The very next batter, RF Drew Vettleson, sent a fastball off the pitch clock above the wall in right field for a three-run home run, giving the Senators a 6-2 lead.

Carpenter pitched very well - retiring the final 14 batters he faced. The tall lefty worked seven innings, allowing runs in just the first two frames while scattering five hits, striking out five and walking none. Ortega was charged with the loss (0-1) after giving up four runs on two hits in the big eighth innings for the Nationals affiliate.

Spann allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits while walking five and striking out four over 5 and two-thirds innings. The left hander would not factor into the decision as he left with the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth. RHP James Simmons was tremendous in relief - throwing two and one-third innings of scoreless baseball - allowing no hits, no walks while striking out two. He improves to 3-3 in the victory.

Harrisburg's starting SS Wilmer Difo was removed from the game after the bottom of the first inning for reasons unknown. Additionally, INF Tony Renda, who was not in Thursday's lineup, was traded to the New York Yankees during the game for RHP David Carpenter.                          

The Cats' take their show on the road for a three game series against the Binghamton Mets beginning Friday evening. New Britain starts RHP Shane Carle (6-4) and the Mets will counter with RHP Matt Fulmer (1-0). First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from June 11, 2015


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