Dozier Powers Rock Cats Past New Hampshire

Published on August 20, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - Brian Dozier homered twice - including sparking a four-run sixth - to power the Rock Cats to a 5-4 come-from-behind win over division-leading New Hampshire before a sellout crowd of 6,617.

The sellout crowd was the23rd sellout of the season - and fourth-straight - at New Britain Stadium and set a new franchise record for sellouts in a single season.

The capacity-filled crowd saw an exciting game in which Dozier led off the bottom of the first against Willie Collazo by hammering an 0-1 pitch over the left field wall for the first leadoff homer for the Rock Cats since July 27. It was the second game in a row that Dozier homered.

The Fisher Cats answered back in the top of the second with three runs off of starter Spencer Steedley. Moises Sierra (3-for-4) led off the inning with a base hit into center before Steedley retired the next two batters. Kevin Howard kept the inning alive with a single into center and Craig Stansberry followed with a triple that put the Fisher Cats on top, 2-1. Jonathan Diaz added an RBI single that plated Stansberry.

In the sixth, the Fisher Cats tacked on another run with an RBI double by Mark Sobolewski.

The Rock Cats clawed back in the sixth inning. Dozier continued his hot streak at the plate with a home run to left to lead off the inning. Mike Hollimon reached base on a walk and Joe Benson followed with a base hit to left field. Chris Parmelee then reached base on a throwing error by Stansberry at first that allowed Hollimon to cross the plate. Chris Herrmann then delivered a one-out double to center to score Benson and Parmlee to put the Rock Cats on top.

Collazo limited the Rock Cats to one run on three hits in five innings. Reidier Gonzalez (7-2) suffered the loss after surrendering four runs - three earned - on three hits in one inning.

Steedley finished with three runs on seven hits and struck out five in four innings. Michael Tarsi fired a perfect fifth before Dakota Watts (1-1) hurled three impressive innings (2 H, 1 ER) to pick up his first victory of the season. Deolis Guerra notched his first save with a perfect ninth.

OF NOTE: Rock Cats infielder Chris Cates proposed to his girlfriend, Meagan Suarez, on the field prior to Saturday night's game. Cates arranged for family to attend the game and planned a staged presentation of an award in order to surprise Suarez, who quickly accepted the proposalFormer New England Patriot and New Britain High School star Tebucky Jones threw out a first pitch, but opted to toss a football over baseball.

ALLSTATE PLAYER OF THE GAME - 2B Brian Dozier went 2-for-3 at the plate with two solo home runs and a walk for the Rock Cats.

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Eastern League Stories from August 20, 2011


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