Fisher Cats hit four home runs in doubleheader sweep of Defenders
Published on April 22, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release
Norwich, CT- Brian Dopirak and Luis Sanchez each hit home runs and RHP Randy Boone picked up his second win of the season in just his second start, leading New Hampshire to a 5-1 victory and a sweep of Wednesday's doubleheader from Connecticut at Dodd Stadium.
The Fisher Cats won the first game, 4-3, as LHP Luis Perez improved to 2-1. New Hampshire finished the opening roadtrip of the season with a 5-1 record, and return home to Merchantsauto.com Stadium with a 9-4 overall record and first place in the Northern Division of the Eastern League.
In the nightcap, four of the first five batters delivered hits off starter and losing pitcher LHP Jesse English (1-2). Brad Emaus singled, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a single by David Cooper to make it 1-0. Cooper advanced to second on a single by Dopirak (2-for-3, HR, RBI) and scored on a double by Nick Gorneault for a second run.
In the top of the second inning, Sean Shoffit reached on an error. Jonathan Diaz bunted him to second base, and SS Luis Sanchez followed with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot that gave the Fisher Cats a 4-0 lead.
Dopirak homered off Connecticut reliever Steve Edlefsen leading off the third inning to make it 5-0.
Boone had a shot at a complete-game shutout after Jonathan Diaz made a diving catch in left field and doubled off Mike Mooney at second base in the bottom of the seventh inning. Boone was removed after an Antoan Richardson single put two runners aboard. Reliever Edgar Estanga yielded an RBI single to Eddy Martinez-Esteve and walked Adam Witter, but got Brett Pill to pop out with the bases-loaded to end the game.
Boone, in improving to 2-0, allowed one unearned run on six hits in 6.2 IP. He walked three and struck out one. His ERA remains at 0.00.
In the opener, Dopirak's solo homer in the top of the second inning off starter and loser Nick Pereira (0-1) gave the Fisher Cats 1-0 lead. Later in the same frame, Nick Gorneault (2-for-3) singled and stole second base. After Luis Sanchez walked, Sean Shoffit doubled both home to make it 3-0, his first RBIs of the season.
Brad Emaus led off the top of the third inning with his first home run to extend the lead to 4-0.
Connecticut (5-7) closed to within 4-3 when Mike Mooney doubled off Luis Perez with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning. Perez had walked the bases full.
Celson Polanco pitched a scoreless sixth inning and Leon Boyd recorded his third consecutive perfect outing to record his third save.
The Fisher Cats return home tomorrow, Thursday, April 23 to open a homestand with the Binghamton Mets at 6:35pm. The first 2,000 children attending the game at Merchantsauto.com Stadium will receive a Coca-Cola Fisher Cats pennant. For tickets, call (603) 641-2005 or visit www.nhfishercats.com. RHP Jose Sanchez (1-1, 12.00) is scheduled to start for Binghamton against LHP Marc Rzepczynski (2-1, 5.14) for New Hampshire. The game can be heard starting at 6:15pm with the BayRing Communications Pre-Game Show with Mike Murphy and Bob Lipman on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network.
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