EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Flores Pushes Average Back over .300 in 5-3 Loss

Published on July 31, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


MANCHESTER, N.H. - Jorge Flores went 2-3 and drew a walk on the final day of July, but the Fisher Cats ended the month with a 5-3 loss to the Reading Fightin Phils at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Despite the loss, which was the team's first in a seven-game homestand, the Fisher Cats (54-59) went a remarkable 18-10 in July, and they finished the month within three games of the Eastern Division lead.

New Hampshire actually scored first in the defeat to the Phils (57-49), who were a half-game in front of the Fisher Cats in third place entering the night. In the bottom of the first, with two men aboard, K.C. Hobson singled to left field to bring home Flores for a 1-0 lead. On the play, Kevin Nolan was thrown out at the plate, which ended the inning and kept Reading's deficit at one run.

Reading didn't have an answer against Casey Lawrence (L; 10-10) until the third when they strung together three straight hits to begin the inning, tying the game at 1-1. After a double play, Cam Perkins doubled home another run to give the Phils a 2-1 lead.

An inning later, Reading struck with one out. Five straight hitters reached on a combination of three hits and a pair of walks. Harold Martinez and Angelo Mora produced run-scoring singles before J.P. Crawford added another on a sac fly to center field. At that juncture, Reading's advantage sat at 5-1.

Lawrence would settle down and eventually pitch seven full innings. He took the loss allowing five runs on 9 hits, adding six strikeouts and a pair of walks.

As Lawrence settled in, the Fisher Cats attempted several comebacks, but they were continually stymied by Reading starter Joely Rodriguez (W; 3-2). They had two singles to begin the third, but a double play ended that inning. Another double play wiped out a lead-off runner in the fourth.

In the seventh, they finally broke through to pull a run closer. Jack Murphy tripled with one out for his second three-base hit of the year. Matt Newman followed with a single to center to cut the deficit to 5-2. But, before they could string anything else together, Christian Lopes grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

The eighth inning saw the Fisher Cats rue another missed opportunity. Shane Optiz and Flores each singled to start the inning. Ryan Schimpf followed with a bouncer to shortstop that forced out Flores. The relay throw to first base skipped in the dirt, which allowed Optiz to score from third. That run made it 5-3 with only one out and a man aboard, but Nolan and Hobson were each retired on one pitch to end the rally.

Flores had two of the Fisher Cats nine hits, and his average sits at .302 heading into August. Optiz produced another pair of hits, his seventh and eighth on the homestand.

The series continues with the third game on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. The game features another Atlas Fireworks show and the first 1,000 kids will receive a free wallet thanks to Bank of New Hampshire. Fans can also win free prizes playing USA Subs Baseball Bingo. Tickets are available at www.nhfishercats.com, by calling 603-641-2005, and by visiting the stadium box office.

Right-hander Mike Lee returns to the New Hampshire rotation on Saturday night. He'll be opposed by new Phils pitcher Nick Pivetta, who was acquired in a trade with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. Tom Gauthier and Charlie Sherman have the radio call beginning at 6:45 p.m. on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and www.nhfishercats.com.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from July 31, 2015


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