Defenders Fall 6-2/ Series 1-1
Published on May 15, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- The first beautiful day in Southeastern CT for the Defenders (18-16)didn't fair so well as they fell to the Fisher Cats 6-2 in front of 4,055 fans Friday night at Dodd Stadium.
New Hampshire brought in two runs in the top of the sixth inning off a CF-Sean Shoffit sacrifice fly and a RF-Nick Gorneault RBI single to take the lead for good.
The Fisher Cats got off to an early start in their first trip to the plate when 2B-Brad Emaus reached on a SS-Brandon Crawford error. C-Brian Jeroloman followed with a single, than both advanced on a wild pitch. DH-Brian Dopirak drove in Emaus with a sacrifice fly to center and LF-Adam Calderone followed with an RBI single to give New Hampshire a 2-0 lead, even before the Defenders batted.
RHP-Marx Rzepczynski (6-2) made his third start against Connecticut and the only two losses on his record have come by their hands. It was also the third meeting between him and Defender's starter, RHP-Henry Sosa, so revenge was on his mind.
The Defenders got off to a weird start in the home half of the first inning when DH-Brock Bond and LF-Antoan Richardson both reached on throwing errors to first by Rzepcynski. Crawford would then draw a four pitch walk to load the bases with no outs setting up 1B-Brett Pill. Rzepcynski would settle down and induce a 5,4,3 double-play which scored Bond then get RF-Eddy Martinez-Esteve to fly out to right and get out of the jam keeping a 2-1 lead.
In the third, Connecticut managed to tie the game at 2-2 with a Brett Pill RBI single to drive in Bond who leadoff with a base hit. That would be all the Defenders would get all ballgame.
New Hampshire put the icing on the cake in the eighth inning with a two out rally off of reliever, RHP-Geivy Garcia. Calderone drew a walk, Shoffit singled and Gorneault blasted a 2 RBI double into the right-centerfield gap to finalize a 6-2 advantage. Gornealt finished 2-4 with three RBI.
Defender's starter, RHP-Henry Sosa received a no decision after tossing five innings of four hit ball, two unearned runs, walked two and fanned three. Connecticut's reliever, RHP-Waldis Joaquin (0-3) dropped his third game with only 1.2 innings of two hit ball, two earned runs, and walked one.
Rzepczynski picked up his first win over the Defenders hurling 5.1 innings, allowed two runs, one earned off of five hits, walked two and struck out six.
Saturday's matchup will feature a resumption game that was suspended due to rain back on April 20. The first game is slated for 5:05pm and has LHP-Ben Snyder (1-1) going up against Fisher Cats righty, Brandon Magee (2-0). There will be a 25 minute intermission prior to game two's start that has RHP-Tim Alderson (1-0) making his Dodd Stadium debut battling New Hampshire's RHP-Randy Boone (3-0).
The Defenders are having a special Policeman Ball & Glove HR Derby featuring local departments starting at 3pm and proceeds to benefit the CT Law Enforcement Memorial. For more information, call the Defenders Box Office at (860)-887-7962 or online ctdefenders.com.
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