Dolenc Delivers as `Cats Take Opening Game

Published on May 25, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


(Game 1)

NEW BRITAIN, CT - Mark Dolenc turned in a perfect night at the plate including delivering the game-winning RBI double as the Rock Cats downed Binghamton, 4-3 in extra innings of the opening game of Wednesday night's doubleheader.

The Rock Cats battled back to tie the game twice, including in the sixth inning to keep the regularly scheduled seven-inning game alive. With two outs, Deibinson Romero lined a single into left field. Cates entered the game as a pinch runner for Romero. Mike Hollimon followed with a walk and Dolenc singled to load the bases. With Daniel Rohlfing at bat, a wild pitch by Mark Cohoon allowed Cates to cross the plate and tie the game, 3-3.

The `Cats had several opportunities to score the go-ahead run, including leaving the bases loaded in the sixth inning after the tying run. In the seventh, Joe Benson led off with a single to center and moved to second when Evan Bigley reached on a fielder's choice that was fielded by shortstop Jose Coronado. That brought Yangervis Solarte - who ranks second in the Eastern League in batting - to the plate. Solarte brought the crowd and dugout to its' feet a couple of times with hard-hit foul balls before he hit into a inning-ending double play.

Danbury native Michael Tarsi held the B-Mets scoreless through two innings to keep the Rock Cats' hopes alive.

In the bottom of the eighth, Cates led off with a single through the gap into center and moved into scoring position on a bunt by Hollimon. Dolenc, who finished the night 4-for-4 at the plate, then ripped a double into left to plate Cates for the winning run to cap off the comeback.

The victory erased two leads by Binghamton. Rock Cats starting pitcher Bobby Lanigan surrendered a leadoff single to Jonathan Malo to open the game. Lanigan then forced the next two batters to fly out before serving up a triple to Brahiam Maldonado that knocked in Malo for a 1-0 lead. Lanigan hit the next batter with a pitch before forcing an inning-ending force out at second.

The B-Mets tacked on another run in the second on Jose Coronado's one-out solo home run over the right field wall.

The Rock Cats answered back in the third inning. Dolenc led off with a base hit to center field. Steve Singleton and Benson followed with consecutive singles, with Dolenc scoring on Benson's line drive to left to put the `Cats on the board, 2-1.

Solarte led off the bottom of the fourth with a homer over the left field wall that tied the game.

Binghamton regained the lead in the fifth. Lorenzo Scott reached base after getting plunked with a pitch to open the inning. Scott stole second with one out and moved to third when Rohlfing misfired his throw from behind the plate to second trying to nab Scott at second base. Saloman Manriquez then grounded to second base that allowed Scott to cross the plate for the 3-2 advanatge.

Lanigan finished with another solid outing, allowing three runs on five hits in six innings. Tarsi (2-0) picked up the win in relief with two hits and two strikeouts in two innings of work.

ALLSTATE PLAYER OF THE GAME: LF Mark Dolenc went 4-for-4 with one double and an RBI. He delivered the walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the eighth to give the Rock Cats the victory.

Satin Knocks in Four as B-Mets Take Nightcap, 6-2

(Game 2)

NEW BRITAIN, CT - Binghamton's Bradley Holt silenced the Rock Cats' bats and Joshua Satin provided the offense as the Mets took the nightcap, 6-2 to split Wednesday night's doubleheader.

Holt (2-3) limited the Rock Cats to two runs on six hits through 6 1/3 innings.

The B-Mets took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jonathan Malo opened the game with a triple off starter Spencer Steedley and scored on Satin's sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the inning, the Rock Cats answered back with an RBI double by Joe Benson.

Binghamton regained the lead courtesy of Jean Luc Blaquiere's solo shot to lead off the third inning. The B-Mets tacked on four more runs in the fourth against reliever Santos Arias. The inning was highlighted by a three-run triple by Satin. Arias allowed four runs on three hits and two walks in his one inning of work.

Steedley (2-2) allowed two runs on five hits in three innings his first start since 2008. he struck out three. Tony Davis was stellar in relief, tossing three perfect innings with three strikeouts, but the Rock Cats had already fallen behind.

Steve Singleton delivered an RBI sacrifice fly to score Mark Dolenc for the Rock Cats' second run of the game in the seventh.

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Eastern League Stories from May 25, 2011


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