'Cats edge Defenders

July 4, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - Luke Hughes and Brock Peterson delivered solo home runs in the bottom of the eighth to lead the Rock Cats to a 5-3 victory over the Defenders. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the ‘Cats.

The Rock Cats and Defenders combined for five home runs, with Peterson leading the way with two solo blasts. On the day, Peterson went 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.

Defenders starter Adam Cowart retired the first six Rock Cats batters he faced until David Winfree led off the third inning with a double to left field. Felix Molina followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Drew Butera then singled to right field to score Winfree and put the Rock Cats on the board, 1-0.

The Defenders battled back in the fourth. Pablo Sandoval's solo blast to right field tied the game. Simon Klink added an RBI double to put the Defenders ahead, 2-1.

Peterson delivered the first of his two home runs - a solo shot to left field - to lead off the bottom of the fourth to tie the game, 2-2.

In the sixth, Peterson and Dustin Martin hit back-to-back doubles, with Peterson scoring on Martin's hit to center field to put the lead back in favor of the Rock Cats, 3-2.

The Defenders tied it back up with a solo home run by Eddy Martinez-Esteve (3-for-4) in the eighth inning. The Rock Cats struck back in the bottom of the inning with Hughes leading off with a solo shot to left field off Defenders reliever Jason Waddell (0-2, 3.67). Peterson added a solo homer to center field.

Ryan Mullins (7-6, 3.90) picked up the win with one run in one inning in relief. Ben Julianel shut the door in the ninth with a perfect inning to notch his 16th save. Rock Cats starter Jeff Manship tossed seven solid innings, limiting the Defenders to two runs on seven hits. He struck out four.



Eastern League Stories from July 4, 2008


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