Defenders fall in 11
June 8, 2006 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
The Connecticut Defenders fought hard for 10 and a half innings, but saw a games worth of hard fought comebacks go to waste in the bottom of the 11th inning of an 8-7 loss to the Harrisburg Senators.
The Defenders played catch up on three different occasions starting early in the second inning when they fell behind 1-0. Clay Timpner answered with a solo shot in the third to tie the game 1-1. It was Timpner's 2nd home run of the season. Harrisburg would chase Connecticut starter Garrett Broshuis from the game in the bottom of the 4th with four hits that resulted in three runs scored to give the Senators a 4-1 lead. The Defenders bounced back with four hits leading to three runs in the top of the fifth. The big blow was an Aaron Hornostaj two run triple to tie the game 4-4 with two outs.
The tie was short lived, though. In the bottom of the fifth, the Senators added two more runs on a Saloman Manriquez home run. Travis Ishikawa cut the lead to 6-5 in the top of the 6th with a home run of his own. The score would stay that way until the ninth inning when Timpner came to the rescue again with an RBI single to score Jake Wald. Geno Espinelli held the Senators scoreless in the 9th and 10th innings, and got some support in the 11th. Randy Walter led off the inning with a triple and came into score on a collision at the plate on a sacrifice fly by Brian Munhall. This gave the Defenders a 7-6 lead.
It seemed as though the Defenders were on the way to their first series victory since taking two of three from Binghamtom three weeks ago. However, this game was far from over. Dan Dement started the bottom of the 11th by fouling off many two out Espinelli pitches before drawing a lead off walk. The next two batters, Melvin Dorta, and Tim Raines Jr. laid down sacrifice bunts that went for singles to load the bases. After Kory Casto knocked in the tying run with a sacrifice fly, Prentice Redman stepped up with the game winning single. Harrisburg won the game and the series with an 8-7 victory
The Defenders hit the road to play Akron for three games before returning to Dodd Stadium next Tuesday. Lefty, Pat Misch (5-2) takes the mound tomorrow against Akron Aeros right-hander Ron Bay (3-3). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35.
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