Fisher Cats drop another one-run decision
Published on July 3, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release
Norwich, CT- David Smith, in his first game back with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, lined an RBI double that highlighted a three-run fifth inning, but the Connecticut Defenders rallied with three runs of their own in the bottom of the eighth inning to complete a five-game series sweep, 4-3, Thursday night before 5,162 fans at Dodd Stadium.
New Hampshire (32-53) batted around in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead against Connecticut pitcher Ben Snyder. Smith (1-for-4, 2B, RBI), who returned to the Fisher Cats from Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day, drilled his franchise-record 77th career double to centerfield, scoring Jacob Butler (1-for-3, BB, R). Andrew Pinckney (0-for-3, SF, RBI) and Ryan Patterson (0-for-2, SF, BB, RBI) added back-to-back sacrifice flies.
Connecticut (42-43) mounted its comeback against reliever Orlando Roman (0-1) in the bottom of the eighth inning. Jake Wald (2-for-3, 2B, 2 R) led off with a single, and Kyle Haines (3-for-4, 2B, RBI, R), an Eastern League Northern Division All-Star, reached on shortstop Chris Gutierrez's fielding error. Ben Copeland (1-for-2, BB, SAC, R) reached on a sacrifice bunt when Roman attempted unsuccessfully to get Wald at third. Pablo Sandoval (1-for-4, 2 RBI) then lined a two-run single to right field, and a Smith fielding error allowed the runners to advance an extra base. Copeland came home from third base with what proved to be the winning run when Roman uncorked a wild pitch. Two of the three Defenders' runs were unearned in the inning.
Ronnie Ray (3-1) pitched three shutout innings of relief to notch the victory. The right-hander scattered three singles and registered three strikeouts.
Justin Hedrick, an Eastern League Northern Division All-Star, worked around a walk to Patterson and pinch-hitter Kyle Phillips' single to earn his first save.
The Defenders took a 1-0 lead against Julio Pinto in the bottom of the third inning when Wald looped a double down the right field line and scored on Haines' single up the middle.
Pinto worked five innings in a spot start role, allowing one run on seven hits. He struck out three and did not allow a walk.
Celebrate the Fourth of July with an Atlas Fireworks Show at Merchantsauto.com Stadium as the Fisher Cats take the field as the New Hampshire Primaries on Friday night at 7:05pm to open a series with the Trenton Thunder, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. Bank of America Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Robert Ray (3-1, 0.92) pitches for New Hampshire against Trenton left-hander Phil Coke (6-3, 3.09). Radio coverage begins at 6:45pm on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network. For tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005.
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