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EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Fisher Cats win fourth in a row, 7-2, over Rock Cats

April 18, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


New Britain, CT- Nick Gorneault crushed a three-run home run as part of his four RBI night, and Marc Rzepczynski pitched six strong innings to earn his second victory as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats downed the New Britain Rock cats, 7-2, on Saturday night to record their fourth straight win.

New Hampshire (7-3) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning against losing pitcher Matthew Fox. Brian Dopirak (2-for-4, 2B, IW, RBI, 2 R) and Brian Jeroloman (3-for-4, R) hit consecutive singles, and Gorneault (1-for-3, HR, BB, 4 RBI) belted his first homer of the season, a towering three-run blast over the leftfield wall.

New Britain (2-8) responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning when Yancarlos Ortiz (1-for-5, 2 RBI) delivered a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded off Rzepczynski, trimming the Fishers' lead to 3-2.

Dopirak staked the Fisher Cats to a 4-2 lead with a two-out double off Fox in the top of the third inning that plated David Cooper (2-for-5, 2 2B, RBI, 2 R), who narrowly missed a home run on his own double off the top of the wall in right-centerfield.

The Fisher Cats put the game away by scoring three runs in the top of the eighth inning. Cooper lined an opposite field RBI double off reliever Jose Lugo, scoring Brad Emaus (1-for-4, BB, R) from first base. After the next two men reached, Gorneault drew a bases-loaded walk. With two outs, Luis Sanchez (1-for-4, RBI) poked a run-scoring single off Anthony Slama to cap the three-run frame.

Rzepczynski (2-1) worked six innings, yielding two runs on four hits. The southpaw walked three and fanned eight, increasing his Eastern League lead to 21 strikeouts on the season. His two wins are tied for the league lead.

New Britain loaded the bases in both the eighth and ninth innings but could not score. David Shinskie retired the only batter he faced, Wilson Ramos (1-for-5), on a bases-loaded ground out to earn his first save.

Fox (0-1) suffered the setback after allowing four runs on five hits in 4.2 innings. He struck out four and walked three.

The Fisher Cats look for a four-game series sweep of the Rock Cats Sunday afternoon at 1:35pm. New Hampshire sends right-hander Rei Gonzalez (1-0, 1.23) to the bump against New Britain right-hander Jeff Manship (0-2, 10.13). Radio coverage begins with the BayRing Pre-Game Show at 1:15pm on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network with Mike Murphy.

The Fisher Cats open a four-game series against the Binghamton Mets on Thursday, April 23, with a 6:35pm game at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. The first 2,000 kids in attendance will receive a free Coca-Cola Fisher Cats Pennant. 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 April 18, 2009


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