Defenders Win with Walk off
Published on April 8, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- The air was cold and the game was long, but the Connecticut Defenders won in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night as Travis Ishikawa blasted a solo walk-off home run over the right field wall in the bottom of the eleventh.
Portland's starting pitcher Justin Masterson was brilliant on the mound as he went five scoreless innings, scattering two hits while striking out seven.
Brooks McNiven took the ball for the Defenders and was just as good as he tossed six innings of scoreless baseball allowing just one hit while walking three and striking out three.
Connecticut's offense erupted first as Olmo Rosario tapped an infield single, then proceeded to steal his second base of the evening. Antoan Richardson struck out swinging and Ben Copeland battled to draw a six pitch walk. Ishikawa was up next and he sent a soft fly ball to right center field but Bubba Bell couldn't bring it in and the Defenders moved station to station as the bases loaded up with only one out. Carlos Sosa brought in Rosario on a slow bouncer to the second baseman, Jeff Natale and the Defenders enjoyed a brief, albeit it, 1-0 lead.
Portland stormed back in the top half of the inning as right-handed reliever Ryan Sadowski took the ball for Connecticut. Aaron Bates drew a leadoff walk, Mark Wagner sprayed a single to left and Andrew Pinckney struck out swinging. Jeff Natale was hit by a pitch to load the bags for Jay Johnson who delivered with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Bates from third and tied the ballgame up at 1-1.
The teams would trade zeroes for three and a half innings and well passed regulation until a fateful eleventh inning.
Travis Ishikawa came to the plate with none on and one out and lifted a 1-0 fastball over the right-center wall to give the game to the home team, 2-1.
The rubber match between these two teams will take place tomorrow evening at 6:35pm at Dodd Stadium. For tickets or further information visit ctdefenders.com or call the box office at (860) 887-7962.
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