Defenders cling to one-run victory

Published on July 3, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release


NORWICH, CT- The atmosphere was electric, the fans were raucous, and the Defenders made a dramatic comeback to close the glove on a five-game sweep against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 4-3.

Connecticut's southpaw starter Ben Snyder was magnetic through four, as he faced the minimum, gave up one walk and one infield single through the scoreless frames. The fifth, conversely, was a different story.

Kyle Haines' RBI single in the third brought Jake Wald to the plate as the Defs took a slim, 1-0 lead.

New Hampshire erupted in the fifth for three runs on three hits as Andrew Pinckney and Ryan Patterson delivered situational sacrifice flies to cap off the rally. At the middle of five, it was the Fisher Cats 3, the Defenders 1.

The score stood still during the sixth and seventh as Connecticut moved into the home half of the eighth still trailing. Consequently, the Defs carried a 0-36 record when behind after seven.

Jake Wald started off the inning with a laced single, Kyle Haines roped a one-hopper to the shortstop Chris Gutierrez that he couldn't handle and Ben Copeland laid a bunt down the third base line that left everyone one safe at their respective bases. Ryan Rohlinger popped out weakly to first to make way for Pablo Sandoval. Coming into the at-bat, Sandoval was a disappointing 0-for-3, but Pablo wouldn't disappoint a fourth time. A single into the alleyway boomed off his bat and two runs came in to score to knot the game at 3-3. Eddy Martinez-Esteve grounded out to second and it was Adam Witter's turn to take cuts at the dish. But on a 1-0 count, Cats' pitcher Orlando Roman threw a wild pitch through his backstop's wickets as the go-ahead run crossed the plate. The fans went nuts.

Justin Hedrick assumed his new duty as a closing pitcher as he walked to the mound. Hedrick induced a lazy fly ball on the infield to retire Pinckney, then walked Ryan Patterson. Kyle Phillips then delivered a pinch-hit single as the tying run stood in scoring position. Hedrick settled down and retired the dangerous Scott Campbell on a fly ball to center and Eric Nielsen on a game-ending groundout to Jake Wald.

Ronnie Ray earned the win for the Defenders as he improved to 3-1, Orlando Roman suffered his first loss and Justin Hedrick clamped down to secure his first save of 2008.

The Defenders and Rock Cats will duke it out on Independence Day at New Britain Stadium. Listen to every pitch and the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Pre-Game Show starting at 3:50pm on the Defenders' Radio Network or anywhere in the world at ctdefenders.com.

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Eastern League Stories from July 3, 2008


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