Defenders Sweep into Playoffs
August 27, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- The Connecticut Defenders (77-53) took care of business Thursday night at Dodd Stadium as a crowd of 3,835 watched their hometown team ride their brooms into the 2009 Eastern League Playoffs with a 3-1 victory sweep over inter-state rival New Britain. Connecticut is the first team to clinch a playoff berth and it's the first time since 2002.
The Defenders' 3B-Brad Boyer lined a shot into left center and legged out his second triple of the night setting up the Eastern League's RBI leader DH-Brett Pill who took a 1-2 pitch to right field scoring Boyer, giving Connecticut a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning and sealing their 16th victory in 20 meetings against New Britain this season.
The Rock Cats jumped in front for the first time all series long in the top of the second inning. DH-Erik Lis got the frame started with a single. LF-Juan Portes sent a flare out to right field to putting runners on the corners. Then SS-Steve Singleton found the alley way in right center as it took one hop over wall for a ground rule double scoring Lis and giving New Britain a 1-0 lead.
Connecticut evened things up in the fourth when Brett Pill reached on a fielder's choice and was brought in by RF-Eddy Martinez-Esteve's RBI triple.
In the sixth, with the Defenders ahead 2-1, saw Martinez-Esteve drive in his second run of the ball game with his 8th homerun of the season cushioning Connecticut's lead to 3-1.
RHP-Garrett Broshuis (4-4) matched his season high 6.2 innings allowing just one run off of five hits despite walking four. Suffering the loss for the Rock Cats was RHP-Mike McCardell (3-2) allowing all three runs in 5.1 innings of work, walking one and striking out three. LHP-Matt Yourkin closed the game out for Connecticut completing the sweep with his sixth save of the season.
The Defenders head back out on the road tomorrow night for the final road trip of the season in Harrisburg (Nationals). Connecticut will hand the ball to RHP Geivy Garcia (2-3) in the first of four with the Senators. Harrisburg still clinging to their playoff lives send LHP-Matt Chico to the hill making a rehab start for the Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00pm between the Defenders and the Senators.
Fans can catch all the action starting at 6:45pm with the Defenders Pre-game Show on the Defenders Flagship Station WICH 1310AM or online at ctdefenders.com.
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