Fisher Cats Walk off 6-5 in Home Opener
April 14, 2016 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release
MANCHESTER - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats opened their home slate in fine fashion Thursday, downing the Trenton Thunder 6-5 in 10 innings at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.
The Fisher Cats (3-3) made their first appearance as the home team at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium after having served as the visiting team against the Hartford Yard Goats the previous three days. The Thunder (4-3) tied the score with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, but were unable to retake the lead. It was the first extra-inning game for New Hampshire in 2016, and their first walk-off victory of the season.
The Trenton Thunder struck in the top of the first against Fisher Cats starter Luis Santos, making his Double-A debut. Leadoff man Dustin Fowler singled, and moved up to second base on a groundout by Jake Cave. With two outs, Tyler Austin worked a walk, and Dante Bichette, Jr. doubled home the runners with a smash to deep left field. Juan Silva earned a walk of his own, and Kyle Higashioka hammered a double of his own to left field. Bichette and Silva scored, but Higashioka was thrown out at third base trying to stretch the double into a triple. Trenton exited the frame leading New Hampshire 4-0.
The Fisher Cats got on the board in the bottom of the second. Rowdy Tellez led off with an opposite-field double against Trenton starting pitcher Caleb Coshow, and he moved to third base on a single by Melky Mesa. K.C. Hobson pounded a double to deep center field, scoring Tellez and advancing Mesa to third base. With Wilkin Castillo at the plate, Coshow fired a wild pitch that allowed Mesa to score, and Higashioka threw the ball away, letting Hobson scoot home for another run to trim the Trenton lead to 4-3.
New Hampshire surged into the lead in the bottom of the seventh against Trenton reliever Caleb Smith. Hobson singled to lead off the inning, and Smith hit Wilkin Castillo with a pitch.Shane Opitz bunted to advance the runners to second and third. Jorge Flores hit a bouncer to short that Cito Culver booted, allowing Hobson to score and Castillo to reach third while Flores made it to first. With runners at the corners and two outs, Jon Berti sliced a single to center to plate Castillo and give New Hampshire the 5-4 lead. However, in the top of the ninth, New Hampshire reliever Chris Smith served up a fastball that Higashioka belted over the right field wall for a solo homer that knotted the game up at 5-5.
The Fisher Cats broke the deadlock in the bottom of the 10th. With two outs and the bases empty, Tellez drew a walk from Trenton reliever Jonathan Holder (L, 0-1) before Fisher Cats manager Bobby Meacham brought in pinch runner Ian Parmley. The speedy Parmley stole second, putting himself in scoring position. Melky Mesa laced a ground ball through the right side, and Parmley beat the throw home from right fielder Lane Adams to score the winning run.
Santos tossed 5.2 frames, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks and fanning eight. Murphy Smith threw 2.1 innings of scoreless action, striking out four against two hits and a walk. Chris Smith allowed a run on one hit and one walk against one strikeout in 1.2 innings. Will Browning (W, 1-0) struck out the only batter he faced, and earned the victory.
The Fisher Cats will try for their second straight win Friday night against the Thunder at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium at 6:35 p.m. Lefty John Anderson will make the start for New Hampshire, with right-hander Ronald Herrera getting the ball for Trenton. Coverage with Bob Lipman begins at 6:15 p.m. online at www.nhfishercats.com. For tickets and more information, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call 603-641-2005.
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