Defenders Win fifth straight 15-7 & sweep series 3-0
May 13, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NEW BRITAIN, CT- The Defenders (17-15) capped off a six game road-trip with a come from behind victory over interstate rival New Britain 15-7 to sweep their first series of the 2009 season Wednesday morning as well as win their fifth consecutive.
Connecticut's starter, RHP-Brooks McNiven might have still been sleeping when the Rock Cats sent all nine batters to the plate and touched him up for five runs in the home half of the first then added another in the bottom of the second with a solo homerun by DH-Erik Lis to take a 6-0 lead.
New Britain finally had scored some runs in the series and thought they would at least salvage a win in the series as they knocked McNiven out of the game. McNiven lasted only 1.2 innings giving up all six earned runs off of eight hits in the no decision.
The Defenders got on the scoreboard in the third when 2B-Brock Bond scored on a LF-Bobby Felmy's fielder's choice to make it a five run deficit.
In the fourth inning, Connecticut mounted their comeback batting around and eventually tying the game at 6-6 with a 1B-Brett Pill two RBI double inside the third base bag to score Bond and Richardson.
C-Tyler LaTorre led the fifth inning off with a walk followed by a 3B-David Maroul one out single to place runners on the corners. Brock Bond slapped an RBI single to plate LaTorre and give the Defenders their first lead of the game 7-6. Richardson reached on a fielder's choice and Brett Pill blasted his first homer of the season, a three run shot over the left field wall to blossom the lead to 10-6.
The Defenders added two more in the sixth which was cut into with a lone run by the Rock Cats in the bottom of seventh on an RBI double by LF-Matt Moses to score 2B-Brian Dinkleman, Connecticut lead 12-7.
Connecticut responded with a single run in the eighth and two more in the top of the ninth to pad the score, 15-7 before the final out was recorded. Brett Pill led the comeback going 4 for 6 with a homerun, a double, two singles and five RBI.
Defenders reliever, LHP-Jesse English (2-2) picked up his second win after taking over for McNiven in the second inning. English tossed four solid scoreless innings in relief, walked three and struck out five.
The Rock Cat's reliever, RHP-Yohan Pino (0-1) suffered his first loss of the season as starter LHP-Jeff Manship took the no decision. Pino gave up four earned runs off of three hits, walked two, and struck out three in only 1.2 innings.
The Defenders complete the six game road-trip with a 5-1 record and have won a season high five straight games. They return home to Dodd Stadium for a five game series versus division leading New Hampshire tomorrow at 6:35pm.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Defenders Box Office at (860)-887-7962 or online at ctdefenders.com.
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