Defenders Fall to Fisher Cats Behind Fine Romero Effort
August 29, 2007 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
The Defenders looked to win their seventh straight game for the first time since 2001 on Wednesday August 29 at Dodd Stadium. It was a battle of southpaws as Connecticut sent Geno Espineli to the mound to take on Ricky Romero of New Hampshire. The Fisher Cats won the battle as Romero led them to a 7-1 victory, their first in four games against the Defenders on the homestand.
The Defenders did strike first in the bottom of the first inning and did so with two outs. OF John Bowker singled and DH Randy Ruiz followed with an RBI triple to put the Defenders up 1-0 after one inning. The Fisher Cats responded in the top of the second inning after OF Aaron Mathews collected a 1-out single, OF Ryan Patterson reached on an error and C Erik Kratz came through with a 2-run double. The Defenders went scoreless in the bottom of the frame and trailed 2-1 after two full innings.
New Hampshire added two more runs in the top of the fourth on an RBI double and another 2-run double off the bat of Kratz. After 1B Rob Cosby went deep in the top of fifth for his fifteenth home run of the season and DH Manny Mayorson hit an RBI single in the top of the sixth, the Fisher Cats led 6-1. Ricky Romero held the Defenders to one run through seven innings and completed his final frame by retiring three of the four batters he faced.
After adding yet another run, the Fisher Cats took a 7-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning and Jean Machi took care of business, mowing down the Defenders bats 1-2-3 in the ninth to complete the win. Geno Espineli (L, 7-10) took the loss after working 6 innings, surrendering 6 runs (5 earned), 2 walks and striking out 4 batters. Ricky Romero (W, 3-6) picked up his third win of the year after working 7 scoreless innings, giving up 1 run, 2 walk and striking out 7 batters. Randy Ruiz went 2 for 4 with a triple and an RBI in the Defenders loss.
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