Espy's Home Run Not Enough as New Britain Falls to New Hampshire 4-2

Published on July 11, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats were defeated by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats by the score of 4-2 on Saturday evening at New Britain Stadium.

After throwing a scoreless opening frame, Rock Cats starter LHP Harrison Musgrave was welcomed to the Eastern League the hard way on a two-run home run by RF Matt Newman in the top of the second to give New Hampshire the early 2-0 lead. The outfielder also drove in 3B Emilio Guerrero, who doubled off the wall in right to lead off the inning.

The Rock Cats cut the visitors' lead in half in the bottom of the fourth inning after LF Mike Tauchman, who led off with a single and advanced to second on a CF Noel Cuevas groundout, stole third and then came home after C Pierce Rankin's throw sailed into left field.

New Hampshire went up by two runs once again in the top of the fifth on a 4-3 RBI groundout by CF Ian Parmley. The outfielder's productive out sent home 1B Shane Opitz to push the Fisher Cats ahead 3-1.

RF Dean Espy pulled the Cats' within one after launching a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth. The outfielder hooked Fisher Cats starter LHP John Anderson's offering around the foul pole in left field, causing a brief delay in the home run call but it would count for his fifth of the season.

Espy had a chance at home runs in back-to-back plate appearances as he drove the ball deep to the wall in left but it would just be a loud second out in the bottom of the seventh, which would be the last inning for the Fisher Cat starter. Anderson scattered five hits over seven, giving up two runs while walking one and striking out four. He improves to 5-3.

New Hampshire added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning, an RBI single from SS Jorge Flores that fell just in front of Espy, scoring Rankin who had a lead-off double off of Rock Cats reliever LHP Kraig Sitton.

Musgrave allowed three runs, all earned, over five innings for his Rock Cats debut. The southpaw walked two and struck out four, falling to 0-1.

Fisher Cat reliever RHP Danny Barnes earned his third save of the year.

Rock Cats RHP Bryan Evans, originally scheduled for Saturday's start, gets the nod for Sunday's 1:35 contest. He will square off against RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx.

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Eastern League Stories from July 11, 2015


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