EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Dopirak's walk-off double gives Fisher Cats 5-4 win

Published on May 13, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


Manchester, NH- Brian Dopirak had stranded seven runners in his first four at bats of the night, but the New Hampshire Fisher Cats' designated hitter delivered a game-winning double to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring Brad Emaus and giving the Fisher Cats their first walk-off win of the year, a 5-4 triumph over the Binghamton Mets Wednesday night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.

Losing pitcher Julio De La Cruz (0-1) had been perfect through two innings of relief for the Mets before walking Emaus (2-for-2, 2B, 3 BB, R) to start the ninth. Stephen Clyne took over, walking Brian Jeroloman (1-for-3, BB, SF, RBI) on four straight pitches before giving up the double to Dopirak (1-for-5, RBI).

New Hampshire (19-14) broke through against Mets' emergency starter Nick Abel in the bottom of the second with the bottom of the batting order. Number six hitter Al Quintana (1-for-4, R) singled and moved to third on a Cody Haerther (2-for-4, R, 2B) double. Luis Sanchez (1-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI) then grounded out to second, scoring Quintana and moving Haerther to third. Adam Calderone (2-for-3, 2 RBI, 3B, SF) followed that up with his second sacrifice fly of the season for a 2-0 lead.

Binghamton (14-17) made it a tie game with two runs -one earned- off Toronto Blue Jays' left-hander Ricky Romero in the top of the fourth inning. Romero, making an injury rehabilitation start, walked two men in the fourth and allowed an RBI single to Josh Thole (1-for-4, RBI, R). Thole subsequently scored when New Hampshire catcher Brian Jeroloman was charged with a passed ball on a strikeout of Shawn Bowman.

Romero went 5.1 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits. The left-hander walked five and fanned four.

In the bottom of the fourth, Jeroloman (1-for-4, SF, RBI, K) gave New Hampshire a 3-2 lead with a bases-loaded sac fly off Edgar Alfonzo, scoring Sanchez.

Calderone recorded his second RBI of the game with a sixth-inning triple off Alfonzo, scoring Sanchez (double) and giving the Fisher Cats a 4-2 advantage. As a group, New Hampshire's 7-8-9 hitters went 5-for-11 with two doubles, a triple, two runs scored and three RBIs.

The Mets rallied against Randy Boone (0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, K) in the top of the eighth inning. Boone, normally a starter, was roughed up in his first relief appearance, walking leadoff hitter Emmanuel Garcia (0-for-1, 4 BB, 2 R, SB), before giving up singles to Jonathan Malo (1-for-4, R) and Josh Petersen (3-for-4, 2B, RBI), the latter scoring Garcia.

Winning pitcher Bubbie Buzachero (1-1) entered for Boone and yielded a broken-bat single to Shawn Bowman that plated Malo, tying the game 4-4.

The Fisher Cats kick off a road trip Thursday night against the Connecticut Defenders at Dodd Stadium. Left-hander Luis Perez (2-3, 3.58) matches up with right-hander Jesse Foppert (0-2, 4.60) at 6:35pm. Radio coverage begins at 6:15pm with the BayRing Pre-Game Show on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network with Bob Lipman.

The Fisher Cats return home next Friday night, May 22, to open a series against the Trenton Thunder at 7:05pm. It will be Law Enforcement Night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium, and it's also David Ortiz Bobblehead Giveaway Night, courtesy of Sovereign Bank. 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 May 13, 2009


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