EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Machi goes season-high eight innings in Altoona's 5-4 win over New Hampshire

Published on August 17, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


Manchester, NH- Jean Machi allowed no earned runs over a season-high eight innings, Chris Gutierrez had three hits and two runs scored and Brian Dopirak doubled and drove in two runs, but the Altoona Curve scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to rally past the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 5-4, on Sunday afternoon before a crowd of 6,019 at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.

Altoona (58-71), which was 0-58 this season when trailing after eight innings, erased a 4-1 deficit with four runs in the top of the ninth inning off losing pitcher Jason Burch. Jonel Pacheco (2-for-4, RBI, 2 R) and Brad Corley (1-for-3, HBP, SB, RBI, R) both had RBI singles before pinch-hitter Melvin Dorta (1-for-1, 2 RBI) lined a two-out, two-run single off Daryl Harang, giving the Curve the dramatic win and a three-game series sweep. Josh Shortslef (5-2) worked 2.1 shutout innings of relief to earn the victory. The left-hander yielded one hit and one walk.

Burch (3-3) suffered his first Fisher Cats' loss after being reached for four runs on four hits in one-third of an inning.

Machi allowed only one unearned run on three hits, matching a season high with six strikeouts and departing with a 4-1 lead after eight innings. The right-hander has now gone 14.1 innings without allowing an earned run, lowering his ERA from 5.57 to 4.39.

New Hampshire (55-74) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Yoslan Herrera when Gutierrez (3-for-5, 2 R) singled with one out, and J.P. Arencibia (2-for-4, 2B, SF, RBI) followed with a hit-and-run single, extending his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games and moving Gutierrez to third. Dopirak (1-for-3, 2B, SF, 2 RBI) plated Gutierrez with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in centerfield.

Altoona knotted the game, 1-1, with an unearned run off Machi in the top of the second inning. Machi's throwing error on a potential double-play grounder allowed the Curve to put runners on the corners with one out. James Boone (1-for-3, SF, RBI) then drove in Pacheco with a sac fly to left.

The Fisher Cats went back in front, 2-1, in the bottom of the third when Gutierrez singled, advanced to third on Arencibia's double and scored on Dopirak's RBI ground out.

New Hampshire took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning on a two-out RBI single from Jacob Butler (1-for-4, RBI) off reliever Pat Bresnehan, scoring Andrew Pinckney (2-for-4, R).

The Fisher Cats built a 4-1 lead in the home half of the seventh inning when Scott Campbell (0-for-4, BB, R) walked and scored on Arencibia's sac fly to right off Pat Bresnehan.

Following an off day on Monday, the Fisher Cats open a three-game series at NYSEG Stadium against the Binghamton Mets Tuesday night at 7:05pm. New Hampshire left-hander Brad Mills (2-1, 0.44) gets the start against B-Mets right-hander Jose Sanchez (12-6, 4.00). Radio coverage begins at 6:45pm on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network with Mike Murphy.

The Fisher Cats open their final three-game homestand of the season Tuesday night, August 26, against the Binghamton Mets at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. The first 1,500 fans on hand for the 7:05pm game receive FREE Beach Towels on Executive Health and Sports Center/NH Sportsplex Night. For tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from August 17, 2008


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