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Dramatic Patterson Walk-Off HR Lifts Lid off New Britain Stadium in Rock Cats Finale

August 30, 2015 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain- In the last game the Rock Cats will ever play at New Britain Stadium, the Colorado Rockies affiliate gave their fans some extra baseball Sunday afternoon. Jordan Patterson slugged a walk-off two-run home run over the right field wall with one out in the bottom of the 15th inning to give the Rock Cats a dramatic 7-5 victory over the Portland Sea Dogs. Patterson's homer came off of position player Oscar Tejada, who took the mound in the 14th inning. Patterson had tied the game in the bottom of the 11th with a two-out RBI double.

"I hadn't been doing anything recently (at the plate), so it was pretty cool hitting the home run," said Patterson, who admitted picking the brain of former MVP Justin Morneau. The defending National League batting champ spent the weekend on a rehabilitation assignment in a Rock Cats uniform. His dramatic home run on Saturday night was the difference in New Britain's 2-1 victory. Sunday, Morneau contributed again, going 2-for-4 with three RBI.

The Rock Cats took three-of-four games from the Red Sox affiliate and finished their final year at New Britain Stadium with a 39-30 record.

A crowd of 6,575 attended the finale and the weekend set drew 26,224 fans.

"To take the final game and win two out of three, means a lot, especially since most of the fans stood until the end," said Rock Cats manager Darin Everson.

Shortstop Pat Valaika paced the Rock Cats 19-hit attack with four hits. Tyler Massey, who tied the game in the eighth inning, had three hits with an RBI.

Austin House picked up his first victory of the season, leading a Rock Cats bullpen that allowed only one run in eight innings of work. Starting pitcher Shane Carle pitched seven innings on his 24th birthday.

The Rock Cats will wrap up their season on the road, starting tomorrow night. New Britain will play four games at Trenton - the Yankees affiliate - and four games against the Red Sox affiliate in Portland.

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