EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Fisher Cats Take 3-2 Thriller in 11

Published on August 7, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


BOWIE, MD - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats didn't buckle when they blew the lead late, scratching out a crucial 11th-inning run to down the Bowie Baysox 3-2 Friday night at Prince George's Stadium.

Despite allowing the hosts to tie it up late, the Fisher Cats (57-52) relied on timely hitting and a pair of critical wild pitches to piece together the winning run in the top of the 11th inning. The Baysox (62-49) were hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 baserunners in the game.

New Hampshire opened the scoring in the top of the second inning against Bowie starting pitcher Gene Escat (ND). Ryan Schimpf drew a leadoff walk from Escat, and moved to second on a 5-3 groundout by Derrick Chung. After a fly-out to center by K.C. Hobson recorded the second out, Emilio Guerrero sliced a single into left field. The ball zipped under the mitt of Quincy Latimore and rolled all the way to the wall. Schimpf scored easily, and Guerrero sped around the bases to cross the plate and make it a 2-0 lead for New Hampshire.

Bowie started cutting into the lead in the bottom of the seventh, with Fisher Cats starter Taylor Cole (ND) still on the hill. Mike Yastrzemski slammed a triple to deep center field, and came in on a groundout by Rossmel Perez to cut the margin to 2-1. The Baysox evened the score in the bottom of the eighth inning, as leadoff man Corban Joseph deposited a 2-0 fastball from reliever Danny Barnes over the right-field fence for a solo homer, knotting things up at 2-2. With neither team able to score again in regulation, the game went to extra frames.

New Hampshire retook the lead in the top of the 11th inning. With reliever Andrew Robinson (L, 0-1) on the mound, Shane Opitz laced a leadoff single up the middle. After Kevin Nolan struck out, a wild pitch moved Opitz to second before Schimpf was intentionally walked, putting runners at first and second. Chung flew out to center, but with Hobson at the plate, Robinson threw another wild pitch, moving Opitz and Schimpf ahead to second and third. Hobson delivered, sliding a hard ground ball up the middle for an RBI single to plate Opitz and give New Hampshire the 3-2 edge. Blake McFarland kept the Baysox off the board in the bottom of the inning to earn the save and preserve the win.

Cole took a no-decision, firing seven innings of one run baseball. He allowed seven hits and two walks while recording two strikeouts. Barnes blew the save, allowing a run on two hits in his lone inning of action. Dustin Antolin (W, 3-2) tossed two shutout frames for the win, striking out three and allowing one hit. McFarland (S, 11) fanned two and allowed a hit in his only inning for the save.

The Fisher Cats will look to make it three in a row Saturday night against the Baysox, with righty Mike Lee drawing the start for New Hampshire against Bowie right-hander Joe Gunkel. First pitch from Prince George's Stadium is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with Ben Gellman's pregame show starting at 6:15 p.m. on the Fisher Cats Radio Network and online at www.nhfishercats.com.

When the Fisher Cats return to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium on Tuesday, August 11, we're celebrating Shark Week at the field and we'll recognize kids who completed the Oral Health Challenge with Northeast Delta Dental. The first 1,000 fans to enter the ballpark will also receive a free Fisher Cats t-shirt courtesy of Buyers Beware. Tickets are available by visiting www.nhfishercats.com, stopping by the box office at the ballpark, or by calling (603) 641-2005.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from August 7, 2015


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