Defenders Win 3-1
Published on April 16, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- It was a sweet coming home party for the Connecticut Defenders as they defeated the two time defending Easter League Champion Trenton Thunder 3-1 in front of 3,149 at Dodd Stadium Thursday night for the team's home opener.
Connecticut came out of the gates running as they scored two early in the home half of the first inning. 2B-Brock Bond, recently activated off the disabled list with an oblique strain scored on a wild pitch and CF-Tyler Graham tagged on an RF-Eddy Martinez-Esteve fly ball to left to give the Defenders a 2-0 lead.
The Defenders would add another run in the fifth on a DH-Adam Witter single to center to score Martinez-Esteve who doubled with one out and give Connecticut a 3-0 advantage.
Trenton's game was error filled committing four miscues but managed to plate a lone run in the eighth when RF-Edwar Gonzalez delivered an RBI single to center to score Kevin Smith and make it 3-1 Defenders.
In the ninth, Defenders closer RHP-Dan Otero picked up his third save giving up just one hit and striking out one to help improve Connecticut to a 5-3 record.
Defenders starter RHP-Nick Pereira silenced the Thunder bats as he retired the first ten in a row. Pereira gave up just one hit in four innings of work while walking three and striking out two in his second start of the season.
Reliever LHP-Matt Yourkin (1-0) threw a solid two innings allowing just two hits, one walk and struck out four in route to his first win of the season. Trenton's starter, RHP-George Kontos (0-1) suffered his first loss while giving up three earned runs off of seven hits in 4.1 innings, walked two and struck out one.
Both teams will meet tomorrow at 6:35pm at Dodd Stadium in game 2 of 4 in a matchup between Defenders starter RHP- Jesse Foppert (0-0) and Trenton's starter RHP- Zach McAllister (0-0).
Friday nights at Dodd Stadium means fireworks so for more information or to purchase tickets call the Defenders Box Office at (860)-887-7962 or online at ctdefenders.com.
Eastern League Stories from April 16, 2009
- Patton Dominates As Baysox Take Home Opener - Chesapeake Baysox
- Sens win 7-2 in home opener over Reading - Harrisburg Senators
- B-Mets Sneak by Portland in Home Opener - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Aeros Can't Solve Patton, Fall to Baysox 2-0 - Akron RubberDucks
- Curve Nearly No-Hit in Home Opener - Altoona Curve
- "Dogs can't spoil Mets home opener, lose 4-3 - Portland Sea Dogs
- Defenders Win 3-1 - Connecticut Defenders
- Thunder fall to Connecticut, 3-1 - Trenton Thunder
- Perez throws seven scoreless innings in 2-0 win - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Opening Night at New Britain Stadium - New Britain Rock Cats
- Aeros Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Mendoza Activated from DL, Transferred to AAA - Trenton Thunder
- Aeros Receive Catcher Armando Camacaro From AAA Columbus - Akron RubberDucks
- Erie SeaWolves at Altoona Curve Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Beazley And Lentz Placed On The Disabled List, Latimer And Plummer Added To Roster - Portland Sea Dogs
- Altoona Curve Game Notes - Altoona Curve
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