EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Late Homers Leave Fisher Cats Down 6-5

Published on July 31, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


MANCHESTER, N.H. - Jack Murphy smashed a go-ahead homer in the seventh only to watch Aaron Altherr homer for the Reading Fightin Phils in the top of the eighth, sending the Phils to a 6-5, series-opening win on Thursday night.

The Fisher Cats entered the seventh down, 4-2, after John Anderson allowed four runs in the top of the fifth inning. The rally started against Reading's starter, Hoby Milner (ND). Mike McDade singled with one out before Milner struck out Cory Aldridge for the second out. A pitching change brought on Nefi Ogando, who served up a 96 mile-per-hour fastball that was tattooed to right by Murphy for a three-run blast and a 5-4 lead. It was Murphy's fifth homer and took Anderson off the hook.

The lead wouldn't last long for the Fisher Cats (52-59). With two outs in the top of the eighth, Randy Boone (L; 1-4) surrendered a weak, broken-bat single to right field. That set the stage for Aaron Altherr to dump one just over the right field wall for the go-ahead two-run blast for Reading (46-64).

Ogando (W; 4-1) earned the victory, stealing it from Milner who allowed just three runs over 6.2 innings. He was followed out of the bullpen by Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez who struck out two in a perfect ninth.

Michael Crouse also homered for the Fisher Cats, giving New Hampshire an early 2-0 lead with his eighth homer in the second inning. On the night, the big hits were too few and far between for the Fisher Cats as they tallied 14 hits, but only one with runners in scoring position. They stranded nine in the loss.

Reading's four-run fifth started with three straight singles and an RBI groundout. With two outs, a bases-loaded blooper to left broke a 2-2 tie to give Reading their first lead of the game.

Murphy's homer was part of a three-hit night. He was joined in the three-hit department by Andy Burns while Crouse, Matt Newman, and Derrick Chung each had two hits. Jon Berti added an eighth-inning single to extend his hit streak to eight games.

The Fisher Cats will continue their homestand on Friday night with a doubleheader against the Fightin Phils at 6:05. The doubleheader will feature two seven-inning games with one ticket covering both games of the twin bill. The games will feature a post-game Atlas Fireworks Show. Tickets are available by visiting www.nhfishercats.com, stopping by the Fisher Cats ticket office, or by calling (603) 641-2005.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from July 31, 2014


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