EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Kratz hits first HR, but Fisher Cats fall to Rock Cats, 4-3

Published on April 9, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


New Britain, CT- Erik Kratz went 2-for-4 with his first home run of the season, and Jacob Butler went 2-for-4 with a triple, but a ninth-inning rally came up one run short in the New Hampshire Fisher Cats' 4-3 loss to the New Britain Rock Cats at New Britain Stadium Wednesday afternoon.

Trailing 4-2 in the top of the ninth inning, Butler (2-for-4, 3B, R) led off with a triple into the rightfield corner off New Britain left-hander Ben Julianel. Pinch-hitter Ryan Patterson reached on Matt Moses' fielding error at third base, scoring Butler. Kratz then singled, putting runners on first and second with no outs.

But Julianel struck out Anthony Hatch (0-for-4), induced a fly out from Chris Gutierrez (0-for-4) and struck out Aaron Mathews (2-for-5) to register his first save and hand the Fisher Cats their fifth straight loss to begin the season.

New Britain (2-3) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. With runners on the corners and one out, New Hampshire starter A.J. Wideman committed a throwing error on a pick-off attempt at first base, allowing Trevor Plouffe (1-for-4, BB, R), who walked, to score from third base.

The Fisher Cats tied the game, 1-1, when Kratz (2-for-4, HR, RBI) belted a Ryan Mullins offering over the leftfield with two outs in the top of the second inning.

New Hampshire (0-5) captured its first lead of the season in the top of the third inning when Josh Kreuzer (1-for-4, RBI) lined a two-out single off Mullins, scoring Ryan Klosterman (0-for-4, R) from second base.

The lead was short-lived, as the Rock Cats tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the third inning when Steve Tolleson (2-for-4, R, RBI) doubled, advanced to third on Plouffe's bunt single and scored on a hit-and-run double by Dustin Martin (3-for-4, 2B, RBI).

New Britain reclaimed a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Brock Peterson (1-for-3, HR, RBI) knocked a 3-1 pitch from Wideman over the leftfield wall for his first home run of the season.

Wideman (0-1) allowed three runs on six hits in five innings to absorb the loss. The left-hander struck out two and walked one.

Mullins (1-0) earned the win after yielding two runs -one earned- on six hits in six innings. The lefty struck out five and walked one.

The Rock Cats added an insurance run in the home half of the eighth inning when Winfree (1-for-4, run) reached on an infield single off Fisher Cats' left-handed reliever Daryl Harang (0.1 IP, 1 ER, 1 H,1 BB) and Erik Lis (0-for-3, BB) walked. One out later, Tolleson singled off right-hander Sean Stidfole (0.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 K), driving in Winfree.

Yohan Pino pitched two shutout innings of relief for New Britain. Seth Overbey threw two scoreless middle relief innings for New Hampshire.

Thursday night is Opening Night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium as the Fisher Cats host the Connecticut Defenders at 6:35pm. The first 2,500 fans in attendance that night receive a FREE Grappone/All-Star Magnetic Schedule. To purchase tickets, call (603) 641-2005 or visit www.nhfishercats.com.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from April 9, 2008


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