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Herrmann Plays Hero in 9th as Rock Cats Edge Fisher Cats, 4-3

August 31, 2012 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - With playoff hopes on the line, New Britain catcher Chris Herrmann delivered a clutch walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth to down New Hampshire, 4-3 on Friday night.

"I was just looking for a pitch something to drive" said Herrmann, who led the Rock Cats with three hits. "I got the pitch and took advantage of it."

Aaron Hicks started the bottom of the inning by reaching base on a one-out walk. That brought Herrmann to the plate, who drilled a double off the outfield wall to knock in Hicks for the game-winning run. Hicks slid into home for his third run of the night and 96th of the season, tying the all-time franchise single-season mark.

"I knew there would be a play at the plate," said Hicks. "I wanted to slide past the catcher and stick my hand in because I knew it was going to be a close play."

Hicks tied the franchise record in style - matching the feats of Jason Bartlett and Doug Mientkiewicz.

"It's an honor," said Hicks. "Those guys are terrific big league players and for me to tie them in runs scored really means a lot. I just want to thank my teammates. They're the guys who drove me in and allowed me to get those runs."

It was the Fisher Cats struck first when Mark Sobolewski lined a single into right to knock in Jake Marisnick, who led off the inning with a single. In the bottom of the inning, the Rock Cats answered back. Hicks led off with a double to right before Oswaldo Arcia clubbed a one-out, two-run homer over the right field wall for the 2-1 advantage.

In the third, Hicks laid down a bunt with one out and beat it out for a single. Hicks then swiped second - for his team-leading 32nd stolen base - before Chris Herrmann struck out but a passed ball allowed Hicks to move to third and Herrmann to reach first safely. Arcia came through once again, this time with a sharply-hit single that score Hicks. With the run, Hicks drew within one run of the franchise record of runs scored in a single-season.

Ryan Schimpf drew the Fisher Cats closer when he hit a solo home run off of Rock Cats starter Andrew Albers in the sixth inning to close the gap, 3-2.

Albers struck out six in six impressive innings. He limited the Fisher Cats to two runs on seven hits but came away with the tough-luck no-decision.

Albers turned the ball over to relief man Aaron Thompson in the seventh. Thompson hit Koby Clemens with a pitch with two outs. Marisnick then lined a double into left to plate Clemens for the tying run. Thompson escaped the jam without any further damage.

New Hampshire's Deck McGuire allowed three runs on six hits in five innings. Ronald Uviedo (5-3) suffered the loss after allowing the run in the ninth.

Bruce Pugh (4-2) picked up the win in relief for the Rock Cats. Pugh came in with two men on and one out in the ninth to strike out Sobolewski before going on to escape the jam. Rock Cats manager Jeff Smith pointed out that Pugh's pitching helped the Rock Cats to victory.

"That whole game was won by Pugh coming in, getting a big strike-out and a pop-up," said Smith. "That's a big-time performance right there."

The victory kept the Rock Cats alive another day as the season's end inches closer and the team attempts to catch second-place Reading.

"We're doing our best to win these last three games and make playoffs," said Herrmann.

Colabello Counter: Rock Cats 1B Chris Colabello is attempting to make franchise history in the final series of the season. Colabello, who has 96 RBI so far, can become the all-time single-season RBI record holder and the first New Britain player to knock in 100 runs in a season. Steve Hacker currently holds the title with 97 RBI in 1999OF Aaron Hicks is also chasing the triples records. Hicks has nine triples, just one from tying the all-time mark.

Playoff Watch: Trenton (77-62) lost but remains in first place in the Eastern Division. With a loss by Reading (74-65), the third-place Rock Cats (72-67) closed to two games behind the second-place Phillies with three games remaining in the regular season. The top two teams from each division make the playoffs. The Thunder have clinched a playoff spot but are still looking to seal the division title.

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