Kratz Drives in Three as Fisher Cats Knock Off Defenders 7-1
August 29, 2007 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release
Norwich, CT- Erik Kratz went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI, and Ricky Romero scattered five hits over seven solid innings to lead the New Hampshire Fisher Cats over the Connecticut Defenders, 7-1, Wednesday night at Dodd Stadium.
Kratz (3-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 2B, R) lined a double off Geno Espineli into the right-centerfield gap in the top of the second inning to score Aaron Mathews and Ryan Patterson for the RELCO Enlightening Play of the Game, lifting New Hampshire (69-68) to a 2-1 lead.
Kratz doubled to the left-centerfield gap in the fourth inning, scoring Patterson for a 4-1 lead. Patterson (1-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI) had doubled home Rob Cosby, who led off the inning with a double off Espineli (7-10).
Cosby (3-for-5, HR, 3 R, RBI) added his 15th home run of the year with two outs in the fifth inning, launching Espineli's 1-1 pitch over the wall in left, giving the Fisher Cats a 5-1 lead.
Romero (3-6) won for the third time this month, striking out seven batters with two walks and a hit batter. Jean Machi struck out three over two scoreless innings to close out the Fisher Cats' 69th win of the year. It's the first time New Hampshire has reached the 69-win plateau since the 2004 championship season.
Manny Mayorson (2-for-5, RBI) drove in Kratz with a sixth-inning single off Espinelli to give New Hampshire a 6-1 lead. Cosby scored the final run in the seventh inning on a throwing error by Defenders' second baseman Julio Cordido.
Connecticut (59-77) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when John Bowker (1-for-3, R, HBP) singled with two outs and scored when Randy Ruiz (2-for-4, 3B, RBI) tripled to right field, but the Defenders had their six-game winning streak snapped by the Fishers, who end a three-game skid of their own.
Espineli allowed six runs -five earned- on 10 hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked two.
The Fisher Cats try to make it back-to-back wins they send right-hander Kyle Yates (9-7, 4.19) to the mound for the final road game of the year Thursday night at 7:05pm. Connecticut counters with right-hander Garrett Broshuis (2-17, 4.07). Radio coverage begins at 6:45pm on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network (610-AM, Manchester; 930-AM, Rochester; 1540-AM, Exeter) with Mike Murphy.
2007 Eastern League Playoff Tickets and 2008 Season Tickets are on sale now. To purchase tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005.
Eastern League Stories from August 29, 2007
- Thunder Split Another Twin-Bill With Sea Dogs - Trenton Thunder
- Portland Holds a 1/2 Game Lead in the Wild Card Race - Portland Sea Dogs
- B-Mets Release Schedule - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Parnell Leads B-Mets To Split - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Akron Rallies in the Ninth to Win - Akron RubberDucks
- Defenders Fall to Fisher Cats Behind Fine Romero Effort - Connecticut Defenders
- Kratz Drives in Three as Fisher Cats Knock Off Defenders 7-1 - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- R-Phils Rough up Curve 8-2 - Altoona Curve
- Sea Dogs Roster Move - Portland Sea Dogs
- Four Fisher Cats Assigned To Arizona Fall League - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Rock Cats RHP Tim Lahey Promoted to AAA Rochester - New Britain Rock Cats
- Jordan Brown Named Eastern League Rookie Of The Year - Akron RubberDucks
- Baysox To Honor The 150th Anniversary Of Toilet Paper - Chesapeake Baysox
- Jordan Brown of the Akron Aeros Named 2007 Eastern League Rookie of the Year - EL1
- Curve's 2008 Home Schedule Released - Altoona Curve
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.
