Matt the Bat: Newman Goes Yard Again

July 12, 2015 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release

NEW BRITAIN, CT - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats got great performances from their hitters and pitchers Sunday afternoon, downing the New Britain Rock Cats 4-1 at New Britain Stadium to secure a winning record in the season's first half.

The Fisher Cats (45-42) evened up the season series between the two clubs at 10 games apiece and ensured at least a split of the final series before the Eastern League All-Star Break. New Britain (44-45) mustered only eight hits in the game and notched only one extra-base hit, failing to score until the ninth inning. Matt Newman homered for New Hampshire for the second straight game, and Dalton Pompey singled to extend his franchise-record on-base streak to 41 games.

The Fisher Cats broke the deadlock in the top of the fifth inning against New Britain starter Bryan Evans (L, 4-5). Shane Opitz led off with a single, and moved to third on a single by Jorge Flores. Pompey laced a single to center to plate Opitz, and Flores came home later in the inning on a Jon Berti sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

New Hampshire would add two more in the eighth inning against Rock Cats reliever Carlos Ortega. Leadoff man K.C. Hobson sliced a leadoff single to right field before Kevin Nolan flew out to center field. Newman blasted a 3-0 fastball way over the right field wall to double New Hampshire's lead, putting the visitors on top 4-0. Fisher Cats reliever Scott Barnes surrendered a solo homer to New Britain's Will Swanner in the ninth inning to break up the shutout, but the Fisher Cats held on for the 4-1 victory.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx (W, 3-4) pitched five shutout innings for the victory, allowing six hits and whiffing two. Jimmy Cordero notched a hold with two perfect frames, fanning one. Barnes gave up a run on two hits and struck out two in two innings of action.

The Fisher Cats will try to secure the series victory Monday afternoon in their final regular season game ever at New Britain Stadium. Righty Casey Lawrence gets the start for New Hampshire against Rock Cats right-hander Shane Carle. First pitch is at 12:05 p.m., and Ben Gellman has the call starting at 11:45 a.m. on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and www.nhfishercats.com.

The Fisher Cats will open the post-All-Star portion of the season against the Future Red Sox with a four-game series beginning on Thursday, July 16. The series with the Portland Sea Dogs features three Atlas Fireworks show, a celebration of the Back to the Future trilogy on July 17, and a visit by Curious George on July 19. Tickets are available at www.nhfishercats.com, by calling 603-641-2005, and by visiting the stadium box office.

Eastern League Stories from July 12, 2015

• Erie SeaWolves at Harrisburg Senators - Game Notes (Monday) - Erie SeaWolves
• Curve Owners Bob & Joan Lozinak Selected to Blair County Sports Hall of Fame - Altoona Curve
• Six-Run Second Inning Snaps Curve's Four-Game Win Streak - Altoona Curve
• Six-Run Outburst Ensures Victory - Chesapeake Baysox
• Not a Walk in the Park, But Thunder Win 2-1 - Trenton Thunder
• RubberDucks Can't Get past Reading - Akron RubberDucks
• Thunder Walk Down Victory Lane, 2-1 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
• Fightins leave Akron with split - Reading Fightin Phils
• Matt the Bat: Newman Goes Yard Again - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
• Swanner's Ninth Inning Homer Too Little, Too Late; Rock Cats Lose 4-1 - New Britain Rock Cats
• Harrisburg Bats Quiet in Loss to Erie - Harrisburg Senators
• B-Mets Use Five Pitchers to Shutout Sea Dogs 3-0 - Portland Sea Dogs
• Erie SeaWolves at Harrisburg Senators - Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
• SeaWolves Slug Past Senators on Sunday - Erie SeaWolves
• B-Mets Kennel Dogs for Fourth Straight, 3-0 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
• Curve and SeaWolves to Play Doubleheader on July 21 - Altoona Curve
• Cuevas, Biagini Named All-Star Game Starting Pitchers - Portland Sea Dogs
• Newman Dinger Helps Down New Britain - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
• B-Mets Game Notes: Game #89- B-Mets (45-42) at Portland Sea Dogs (32-57) - 1:00 pm - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
• Sea Dogs Game Notes July 12 vs. Binghamton (Game 90) - Portland Sea Dogs

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