EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Fisher Cats Sweep Doubleheader from Rock Cats

Published on July 28, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


Manchester, NH- Luis Perez and Marty McLeary each earned complete-game victories as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats swept a doubleheader from the New Britain Rock Cats, 5-1 and 5-0, on Tuesday night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. It was the first doubleheader sweep at home for New Hampshire since June 17, 2006, over the Portland Sea Dogs, and it brought the Fishers within 2.5 games of the Northern Division wildcard spot.

In the nightcap, McLeary (3-3) went the distance for only the second time in his 13-year professional career, spanning 110 Minor League starts and two Major League starts. The right-hander scattered three hits, struck out five and walked three in his seven-inning complete game, his first since May 17, 2005, with Triple-A Portland of the Pacific Coast League.

The Fisher Cats (48-55) scored all five of their runs against losing pitcher Deolis Guerra in the bottom of the third inning. Scott Campbell (1-for-4, RBI, R) delivered a bases-loaded single, and Brad Emaus (1-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, R) and David Cooper (1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R) followed with back-to-back two-run doubles.

Guerra (3-1), the reigning Eastern League pitcher of the week, was roughed up for five runs on six hits in two-plus innings. The right-hander walked two and fanned two in suffering his first career Double-A setback with New Britain (50-53).

In the opening game, the Fisher Cats broke open a tie game by scoring four unearned runs following a critical two-out fielding error in the fifth en route to a 5-1 victory.

Perez (7-8) allowed only one unearned run on five hits in his first career complete-game victory, moving into a tie for the team lead with seven wins and notching his first home triumph since May 24. The left-hander struck out one and walked three.

Tied 1-1 in the fifth, Jonathan Diaz (1-for-3, R) hit a one-out single off losing pitcher Ryan Mullins and moved to second on a ground out. After the Rock Cats opted to intentionally walk Emaus (0-for-2, IW, R), Cooper (1-for-3, R) lined a single to center, loading the bases. What appeared to be an inning-ending grounder off the bat of Nick Gorneault (0-for-3, R) was mishandled by second baseman Toby Gardenhire, allowing Diaz to score the go-ahead run.

The Fisher Cats further capitalized on the miscue when Darin Mastroianni (0-for-1, 2 BB, RBI, R) drew a bases-loaded walk from reliever Alex Burnett and Campbell (3-for-3, 2 RBI) stroked his third single of the game, driving in Cooper and Gorneault for a 5-1 lead.

The Fisher Cats went ahead, 1-0, in the bottom of the second when Mastroianni walked, Campbell singled him to third and Al Quintana (1-for-3, RBI) ended a personal 0-for-26 skid with a hard single to center, plating Mastroianni.

Mullins (6-10) was charged with five runs -one earned- on six hits and two walks in 4.2 innings. The left-hander fanned six to raise his Eastern League-leading strikeout total to 98 but fell to 0-5 against New Hampshire in 2009.

New Britain's only run came in the top of the third when Whit Robbins (2-for-3, 2B, R) doubled and scored when Diaz committed a throwing error during a rundown play, knotting the game 1-1.

The Fisher Cats look to make it three straight against the Rock Cats on Wednesday night at 7:05pm when New Hampshire right-hander Randy Boone (7-5, 3.57) takes the mound against New Britain right-hander Matt Fox (6-6, 3.51) at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. Radio coverage begins with the BayRing Pre-Game Show at 6:45pm on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network with Bob Lipman and Mike Murphy.

Wednesday is Youth Soccer Day at Merchantsauto.com Stadium, and the first 1,000 kids in attendance will receive a Free Fisher Cats Soccer Ball, courtesy of MVP Health Care. For tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from July 28, 2009


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