New Britain's Martis Silences Thunder

Published on July 13, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - New Britain manager Jeff Smith wanted to keep the opposition off the board in the early portion of the game. Starting pitcher Shairon Martis allowed him to do just that and an offensive explosion in the seventh helped to seal a 9-2 victory over Trenton before 5,859 fans at New Britain Stadium on Friday night. With the victory, the Rock Cats (51-40) moved back into a first-place tie with Trenton.

Martis (7-3), who was acquired by the Minnesota Twins in a trade last month, fired seven impressive frames, including four no-hit innings to start off the game. The first-place Thunder didn't manage a hit until the fifth when Rob Segedin singled with two outs.

"Martis went out there and set the tone early," said Rock Cats manager Jeff Smith. "He threw a lot more like his game tonight. It looked like he was having a bit of fun out there."

The Rock Cats struck first when James Beresford delivered a one-out base hit, moved to second on a walk by Aaron Hicks, and scored when Oswaldo Arcia dropped a two-out single into center field.

Trenton was kept off the board until the sixth inning when David Adams knocked in Jose Pirela with a base hit into left field that tied the game, 1-1. In the bottom of the inning, the Rock Cats answered back. With two outs and two strikes on the board, Evan Bigley crushed a solo homer over the left field wall to put the `Cats back on top, 2-1. Deibinson Romero and Nate Hanson followed with consecutive doubles, with Romero scoring on Hanson's line drive into left. That knocked Trenton's Vidal Nuno out of the game.

Nuno (4-2) finished with three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four.

Down 4-1 entering the seventh, the Thunder looked to make a run with back-to-back base hits by Segedin and Jose Gil. Yadil Mujica then lined the third-straight hit into right field, but Arcia nailed Segedin at the plate. Smith called it the play of the game.

"Chris Herrmann made an unbelievable play at the plate. Catches the ball and makes the play at the plate. Then we had a big inning right afterwards," said Smith.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Rock Cats jumped all over reliever Graham Stoneburner. New Britain hammered out seven hits in the inning, beginning with James Beresford's leadoff double. Hicks followed with a bunt single before Herrmann reached base safely on a fielding error by Adams at second, which allowed Beresford to score. The Rock Cats then fired off four consecutive singles with Bigley and Romero both knocking in a run apiece. Jon Meloan came on in place of Stoneburner and forced Hanson to line into a double play to finally record an out for the Thunder. Shawn Roof added an RBI single to round out the five-run inning.

With his seventh inning hit, Roof became the last player in the starting lineup to record at least one hit. The Rock Cats finished with 16 hits on the night, led by three hit performances by Arcia and Romero.

ALLSTATE PLAYER OF THE GAME : RHP Shairon Martis limited Trenton to one run and six hits in seven innings in his most effective start since joining the Rock Cats.

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Eastern League Stories from July 13, 2012


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