Cats fall to Akron, 3-2

Published on June 14, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - Nate Hanson turned in a huge night at the plate, but the Rock Cats fell to Akron, 3-2 in 12 innings on Thursday night.

Hanson fell a home run shy of hitting for the cycle and finished the night with five of the Rock Cats' 14 hits. The `Cats struggled with knocking in runners in scoring position all night, though, including leaving Hanson stranded on third in the bottom of the 10th after his one-out triple that fell just short of leaving the park. The Rock Cats were just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and couldn't knock in the game-winner before Akron.

In the top of the final frame, Akron's Ben Copeland delivered a one-out single, stole second and scored on a base hit by Roberto Perez for the go-ahead run.

The Rock Cats got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the third. Rene Tosoni led off the inning with a base hit into left field and moved to third on Hanson's double. Tosoni then scored on a groundout by Chris Colabello for the 1-0 lead. Chris Herrmann followed with a single before Hanson crossed the plate on a base hit by Deibinson Romero.

The lead didn't last long, though, as the Aeros' Nick Weglarz smashed a two-run homer off of Brett Jacobson in the fourth to tie the game.

Those were the only runs Akron would muster off Jacobson, who limited the Western Division leading Aeros to three hits in 5 1/3 innings. Jacobson - who usually pitches in a relief role - struck out six in just his third start of the season.

The Aeros looked to take the lead in the sixth. Jacobson issued two one-out walks before being replaced by Bobby Lanigan, who struck out Weglarz in his first match-up. Thomas Neal then lined a base hit into right field and Juan Diaz headed home, but right fielder Evan Bigley fired a strike to Herrmann to nail Diaz at the plate for the final out of the frame.

Aeros starter Paolo Espino was hammered for 10 hits, but allowed just two runs in 5 2/3 innings. Former Rock Cat Loek Van Mil added 2 1/3 shutout innings out of the Aeros' bullpen. Kyle Landis (4-1) picked up the win with two shutout innings. Jose De La Torre notched his first save.

Lanigan and Bruce Pugh combined for four shutout innings out of the Rock Cats' bullpen. Luis Perdomo (3-4) suffered the hard-luck loss for the Rock Cats.

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Eastern League Stories from June 14, 2012


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