Murphy Homers; Rock Cats Win Home Opener 8-5

Published on April 16, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats defeated the New Hampshire Fisher Cats by the score of 8-5 on Thursday evening.

Rock Cats catcher Tom Murphy made quite the introduction in the first home game of the 2015 season. The backstop launched a solo home run

off of Fisher Cats starter RHP Taylor Cole to lead off the bottom of the second and gave New Britain the early 1-0 lead.

The Cats' struck again with bases loaded and no outs the very next frame. RF Tyler Massey drew a bases-loaded walk to push 3B Jayson Langfels, who led off the inning with a walk, across home and make it a 2-0 contest. A two-out, two-run double off the bat of DH Mike Tauchman two batters later not only increased New Britain's lead to four but also closed the book on Cole.

The Fisher Cats cut New Britain's lead in half in the top of the fourth, although both runs went unearned against Rock Cats starter LHP Carlos Hernandez. A foul pop-up that heeled off of Murphy's glove continued 3B Kevin Nolan's at-bat which would end with a walk. Both Nolan and DH Jake Fox, who singled to deep short, scored to make it 4-2.

LF Dwight Smith tied up the ballgame with one swing of the bat in the top of the fifth, sending Hernandez's offering over the wall in right-center. Smith's first home run of the year drove in SS Shane Opitz, who led off the inning with a double.

After a scoreless sixth, the Rock Cats pulled ahead with a four-run seventh and never looked back.

Back to back doubles from Massey and SS Trevor Story started the run parade and Murphy chipped in with an RBI single that would score the shortstop. After a Tauchman single, LF Noel Cuevas lined a double to the gap in left field off of Fisher Cats reliever Danny Barnes. Cuevas scored in the following at-bat on a RBI single from 1B Will Swanner, giving the home side an 8-4 lead.

New Hampshire picked up a run in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI single by Eastern League veteran C Jack Murphy.

New Hampshire's starter lasted 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs, all earned, on three hits. The right-hander walked two and struck out six but would not figure into the decision. RHP Cory Burns suffered the loss, allowing three runs, all earned, on five hits. His record drops to 2-1.

Hernandez worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, while scattering eight hits. Carlos walked two and struck out three and just like his starting counterpart, would not factor into the decision. MLB veteran RHP Gus Schlosser evened his record to 1-1, picking up the win in 2 1/3 innings of relief. RHP Austin House earned his first save of the season.

New Britain sends RHP Shane Carle to the hill for Friday evening's 6:35 p.m. contest. RHP Casey Lawrence gets the nod for the Blue Jays Eastern League affiliate.

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Eastern League Stories from April 16, 2015


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