Cooper's 1st HR not enough in 8-1 loss to Defenders
Published on April 13, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release
Manchester, NH- David Cooper, the Toronto Blue Jays' 2008 first-round draft pick, belted his first career Double-A home run, but the Connecticut Defenders used a four-run first inning to jumpstart their 8-1 victory over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats before a crowd of 2,069 at Merchantsauto.com Stadium on Monday night.
Connecticut (3-2) had its first four base runners reach base and score in the top of the first inning against losing pitcher Marc Rzepzcynski. Eddy Martinez-Esteve (1-for-4, 2B, SF, 3 RBI) stroked a two-run double off the leftfield wall, while Brett Pill (1-for-4, BB, RBI, 2 R) and Mike Mooney (2-for-5, RBI, SB) each delivered run-scoring singles for a 4-0 lead.
Pill led off the third inning with a walk and came around to score on a two-out single by Sharlon Schoop (2-for-5, 2 RBI) for a 5-0 lead.
The Fisher Cats (3-2) spoiled the Defenders' shutout bid when Cooper (2-for-4, HR) rocketed Henry Sosa's first offering of the fourth inning over the rightfield wall, cutting the deficit to 5-1.
Rzepczynski (1-1) allowed five runs on seven hits in three innings to take the loss. The left-hander struck out four and walked four.
Schoop added his second run-scoring single of the game off reliever Nate Starner in the top of the fifth inning, staking Connecticut to a 6-1 advantage.
Martinez-Esteve tacked on a sixth inning sacrifice fly off Starner, scoring Antoan Richardson, who had doubled and stolen third base, for a 7-1 lead.
Richardson (2-for-4, 2B, 3B, BB, SB, 2 R, RBI) drove in the final Defenders' run by tripling off David Shinskie, allowing Jackson Williams (1-for-3, BB, R) to score all the way from first base.
Jesse English (1-0) pitched three shutout innings of relief to earn the win. The left-hander allowed two hits, struck out three and walked two.
The Fisher Cats take on the Defenders in the second game of their three-game series Tuesday night at 6:35pm when right-hander Rei Gonzalez (1-0, 3.00) takes the mound against Connecticut righty Daryl Maday (0-0, 0.00). Radio coverage begins at 6:15pm with the BayRing Communications Pre-Game Show on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network with Mike Murphy.
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