Hit Hard Early, New Britain Falls 8-2

Published on April 6, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release

New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats were defeated by the Richmond Flying Squirrels by the count of 8-2 on Sunday afternoon at New Britain Stadium. After winning their first two games of the season, the Cats ended up splitting their first series of 2014.

Richmond jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second against Rock Cats starter RHP Matt Summers. After striking out DH Angel Villalona, the Squirrels strung three consecutive hits together, four hits in the inning altogether, to put the visitors ahead.

New Britain would get a run back in the bottom half on a great at-bat by C Kyle Knudson. After running Richmond starter RHP Kyle Crick to a full count, the right-handed catcher drove a double out to deep right field to bring home 3B Brandon Waring, who lead off the inning with a walk and also stole second.

The visitors increased their lead to make it a 5-1 ballgame after three innings, touching Summers for two runs on two hits. The runs came on a single from C Myles Schroder and a 1B Ricky Oropesa sacrifice fly.

Richmond's offense continued to plate runners in the fourth, getting an RBI double from RF Jarrett Parker, who entered the day batting .615 (8-13), and a two-run single by Villalona to increase the lead by seven.

New Britain put a run up in the bottom of the ninth to make it 8-2, as it was Knudson once again with the RBI, this time a single out to center off of LHP Bryce Bandilla.

Summers suffered the loss in his first start of the 2014 season. He allowed eight runs, five earned on nine hits over four innings of work. He struck out four and walked one.

Crick, the top prospect in the San Francisco organization, earned the win in his Eastern League debut. The 21 year old struck out five over five innings while walking two and giving up an earned run on three hits.

The Rock Cats welcome the Harrisburg Senators (MLB - Washington) to New Britain Stadium for a three-game series starting Monday evening. The 6:35 p.m. contest will feature LHP Sean Gilmartin pitching for the Cats and RHP A.J. Cole on the bump for the Senators.

Eastern League Stories from April 6, 2014

• Baysox Sweep Senators - Chesapeake Baysox
• Hit Hard Early, New Britain Falls 8-2 - New Britain Rock Cats
• Comeback Falls Short, 'Dogs Lose 4-3 - Portland Sea Dogs
• Offense Supports Crick in Debut, Squirrels Prevail, 8-2 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
• Mets Outlast RubberDucks, 5-4, to Gain Series Split - Akron RubberDucks
• Thunder Use 11-Run Fourth to Salvage Split with New Hampshire - Trenton Thunder
• B-Mets Wash RubberDucks in Finale, 5-4 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
• Back on Track: Curve Down SeaWolves 5-1 - Altoona Curve
• Early Home Run by Alonso Enough for Fightins Second Win - Reading Fightin Phils
• Schimpf Stays Hot in 11-5 Defeat - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
• Altoona Curve Game Information: April 6, 2014 - Altoona Curve
• B-Mets Game Notes: Game #4 - B-Mets (1-2) vs. Akron Rubberducks (2-1) - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
• Sea Dogs Game Notes April 6 at Reading (Game 4) - Portland Sea Dogs

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent New Britain Rock Cats Stories

• Rock Cats to Hold Season Ending Blowout Sale Tomorrow and Friday
• Dramatic Patterson Walk-Off HR Lifts Lid off New Britain Stadium in Rock Cats Finale
• Déja Vu: Morneau's Homer Wins It for Rock Cats
• Rock Cats Set New Single Game Attendance Record at New Britain Stadium 8,672
• Morneau Returns Before Record Crowd, But Cats Lose