EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Mesa Records 2 RBI in Return to Fisher Cats

Published on May 30, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - The Fisher Cats dropped a tight ballgame in extra frames Saturday night, losing 6-5 in 12 innings to the New Britain Rock Cats at New Britain Stadium.

The Fisher Cats (24-25) assumed an early lead but couldn't hold onto it, and squandered an opportunity to move above .500. The Rock Cats (31-17) burnished their league-best record and ran wild on the base paths, with three stolen bases against New Hampshire.

New Hampshire struck first in the top of the first inning against New Britain starter Matt Flemer (ND). Jorge Flores led off the game with a double down the left field line, and raced home two batters later on a double into the gap by Melky Mesa to create a 1-0 lead for the visitors. New Hampshire tacked on three more in the top of the second, taking advantage of an error by New Britain. Ian Parmley singled home Matt Newman and Pierce Rankin, and later came home on a bases-loaded single by Mesa to make it 4-0 in favor of the Fisher Cats.

The Rock Cats struck back in the bottom of the fourth inning against Fisher Cats starter Taylor Cole (ND). Tom Murphy drew a one-out walk, and moved to third on a single by Tyler Massey. Juan Ciriaco bounced to Kevin Nolan at shortstop for a fielder's choice that retired Massey and scored Murphy, then moved to second on a single by Jan Vazquez. With two outs, Pat Valaika laced a single to right that plated Ciriaco and made it a 4-2 game.

New Britain took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, Trevor Story singled, and moved to second when Tom Murphy reached on a dropped third strike. Story scored on a double by Massey, and both Massey and Murphy came home on a triple by Juan Ciriaco to give New Britain a 5-4 lead.

The Fisher Cats knotted it up in the seventh inning. With one out and runners at first and second against New Britain reliever Carlos Estevez, K.C. Hobson chopped a single through the right side, scoring Dwight Smith, Jr. and evening the score at 5-5. The Fisher Cats loaded the bases with one out, but Matt Newman bounced into an inning-ending 3-2-3 double play to quell the rally.

That's where the score stayed until the bottom of the 12th, after Gus Schlosser (W, 7-3) set the visitors down in order in the top of the frame. Dustin Antolin (L, 1-2) allowed a leadoff double to Tom Murphy, who moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Massey. Ciriaco reached on an infield single, but Murphy stayed at third. Antolin intentionally walked Vazquez, and Valaika made him pay with a liner into right to score Tom Murphy for the winning run.

Cole took a no-decision, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks over 4.2 innings while whiffing two. Greg Burke dealt 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, fanning one and working around two walks. Danny Barnes fired 2 frames of shutout work, striking out three against one hit. Blake McFarland surrendered three hits but nothing else in two innings while striking out one. Antolin took the loss, surrendering a run on three hits and a walk while striking out one in 1.1 innings of relief.

New Hampshire will try to secure a series victory when they take the field Sunday afternoon for a 1:35 p.m rubber match at New Britain Stadium. Righty Joel Piî=B1eiro gets the ball for the Fisher Cats against New Britain lefty Ryan Carpenter. Radio coverage begins at 1:15 p.m. with Ben Gellman on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and www.nhfishercats.com.

The Fisher Cats return to Manchester on Tuesday night for the start of a six-game homestand that features two Atlas Fireworks shows, two mid-week day games, and a hat giveaway on Sunday. Tickets are available at www.nhfishercats.com.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from May 30, 2015


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