EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Dopirak drills first HR in 5-2 loss to Altoona

Published on August 23, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


Altoona, PA- Brian Dopirak drilled his first career Eastern League home run, and Jared Gothreaux pitched a season-high four innings of effective relief, but the Altoona Curve downed the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 5-2, on Saturday night before a crowd of 6,638 at Blair County Ballpark.

Six days after being held to three hits by Jean Machi over eight innings, Altoona (61-73) scored a run on three hits in the bottom of the first inning against the Fisher Cats' starter. Angel Gonzalez (1-for5, RBI, R) led off with a single. After a ground out and a wild pitch moved him to third, Jamie Romak (2-for-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI, R) scored him with a single to center, giving the Curve a 1-0 lead.

Altoona tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second inning when James Boone (2-for-4, HR, RBI) drilled his ninth home run, a solo blast over the rightfield fence, for a 2-0 lead. Jason Bowers (2-for-3, 2B, R, SAC) then doubled into the rightfield corner and score when Jose Tabata (1-for-4, BB, SB, RBI) singled up the middle for a 3-0 lead.

Machi (2-6) departed after two innings, absorbing the loss allowing three runs on seven hits, with three strikeouts and a walk.

The Curve built their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third inning against Gothreaux when Brad Corley (1-for-4, R) and Boone singled, and Miguel Perez (1-for-3, BB) walked to load the bases. Corley subsequently scored on Gonzalez's bases-loaded fielder's choice grounder.

Gothreaux rebounded to retire eight of the next 10 batters he faced, matching a season best with four strikeouts.

Curve starter Yoslan Herrera retired the first 10 batters he faced until Eric Nielsen (2-for-4, R) stroked a one-out single to right in the top of the fourth inning. Dopirak (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R) followed that by slamming a two-run homer, his first, over the wall in right-centerfield to slice Altoona's lead to 4-2.

Herrera (6-9) shook that off to earn the victory, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in 6.1 innings. The righty fanned three.

Juan Mateo pitched one-hit baseball over 2.1 shutout innings with four strikeouts to register his fourth save.

The Curve capped the scoring when Romak greeted reliever Orlando Roman with a leadoff home run, his seventh, over the leftfield wall in the bottom of the seventh inning.

New Hampshire wraps up its six-game road trip Sunday night at 6:05pm against Altoona in the rubber game of their three-game series at Blair County Ballpark. Left-hander Brad Mills (2-2, 1.40) will get the start for the Fisher Cats against Curve right-hander Dan Reichert (2-3, 4.81). Radio coverage begins at 5:45pm on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network with Mike Murphy.

The Fisher Cats open their final three-game homestand of the season Tuesday night, August 26, against the Binghamton Mets at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. The first 1,500 fans on hand for the 7:05pm game receive FREE Beach Towels, courtesy of Executive Health and Sports Center/NH Sportsplex. For tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from August 23, 2008


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