EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Fisher Cats edge Mets, 3-2, for seventh win in eight games

Published on April 23, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


Manchester, NH- Brian Dopirak went 2-for-4 with a two-run single, a double and a run scored, and Leon Boyd retired all four batters he faced to earn his fourth save in as many appearances, as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats held off the Binghamton Mets, 3-2, in a battle of the Northern Division's top two teams Thursday night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.

Binghamton (7-5) loaded the bases with one out in both the seventh and eighth innings but failed to score the equalizer in either frame. In the seventh inning, Rommie Lewis induced a double-play grounder from Josh Thole (1-for-5) to escape the jam.

Boyd came in for David Shinskie with two outs and the bases full in the top of the eighth inning and struck out Ruben Tejada (1-for-4, RBI) on three pitches to preserve the lead. The right-hander pitched a 1-2-3 ninth and has now retired all 13 batters he's faced in the Eastern League.

Rzepczynski (3-1) became the league's second three-game winner after allowing two runs on five hits in 5.2 innings. The left-hander walked three and increased his EL-leading strikeout total to 27 after fanning six B-Mets.

The Fisher Cats (10-4) went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning when Dopirak doubled off losing pitcher Jose Sanchez and scored on an RBI ground out by Adam Calderone (0-for-3, RBI, BB).

Binghamton tied the game, 1-1, in the top of the fifth inning on Tejada's RBI single.

New Hampshire responded with two in the home half of the fifth inning when Sanchez (1-2) allowed singles to Sean Shoffit (1-for-3, R) and Brian Jeroloman (2-for-4, R) and walked David Cooper (0-for-3, BB) to load the bases. Dopirak then deposited a 1-2 offering into right field, plating Shoffit and Jeroloman for a 3-1 lead.

Caleb Stewart (1-for-3, 2B, BB, RBI, R) drove in the Mets' final run with an RBI double off Rzepczynski in the top of the sixth inning that scored Carl Loadenthal (0-for-4, BB, R), who walked.

Fisher Cats' relievers Zach Dials (0.2 IP), Rommie Lewis (0.2 IP), David Shinskie (0.2) and Boyd combined for 3.1 two-hit innings of scoreless relief to give New Hampshire its seventh win in its last eight games.

The Fisher Cats try to make it eight wins in their last nine outings on Friday night at 6:35pm when right-hander Rei Gonzalez (1-0, 1.37) takes the mound against Binghamton righty Ryan Coultas (0-1, 3.72). Radio coverage begins with the BayRing Pre-Game Show at 6:15pm with Mike Murphy on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network.

Friday night is the inaugural Chili Cookoff at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. It is also U.S. Cellular Most Improved Student Night and the night will conclude with the first Atlas Fireworks Show of the season. For tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005.

Friday night is also the second Guaranteed Weather Night of the homestand. If the temperature is below 70-degrees at gametime, all fans in attendance will be able to redeem their tickets for free tickets to any future Sunday-through-Wednesday home game during the 2009 regular season!

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from April 23, 2009


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