EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Nolan's Homer Leads Fisher Cats Past Phils 9-7

Published on August 1, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


MANCHESTER, N.H. - Kevin Nolan homered and reach base three times to lead the Fisher Cats to a 9-7 victory over the Reading Fightin Phils on Saturday night. The victory improved the Fisher Cats to 5-1 on their current homestand, and moved them to within a half game of third place in the Eastern Division.

Nolan started the Fisher Cats firs rally in the second inning against starter Nick Pivetta (L; 0-3). He drew a lead-off walk, went to third on a single by Jack Murphy, and then scored on a wild pitch. Murphy scored two batters later on an Emilio Guerrero double to give New Hampshire the quick 2-0 lead.

An inning later, Nolan and Co. were back at it again against Pivetta. With one out, Pivetta issued two more walks - to Jorge Flores and Ryan Schimpf - before Nolan stepped into the box once again. The shortstop, who hadn't homered since May 19, launched a no-doubter to deep left field to push the New Hampshire lead to 5-0.

Reading grabbed the next three runs before the Fisher Cats put the game away in the sixth. Pivetta walked the first two men of the inning before giving way to Jimmy Cordero, who was traded from New Hampshire to Reading on Friday. He was greeted by a Guerrero single to load the bases.

A wild pitch brought home the first run of the frame to make it 6-3. Shane Opitz then drilled a double off the center field wall to plate two more runs for an 8-3 advantage. A sac fly by Flores capped the frame to score Opitz to build the lead to six runs.

Chad Girodo (W; 2-0) earned the win for the Fisher Cats by working 2.2 innings of relief. He retired the first seven hitters he faced before a pair of hits brought home just the second run he's allowed for the Fisher Cats. Dustin Antolin (scoreless seventh) and Cory Burns (four runs allowed) finished out the game to give New Hampshire a 2-1 series lead heading into the finale on Sunday afternoon.

Nolan finished with two hits, a walk, two runs, and three runs batted in. Jack Murphy had a two-hit night while also reaching base on a walk. Guerrero was 2-4 while Shane Opitz continued his torrid homestand with his ninth hit and seventh and eighth runs batted in.

The teams will wrap up the series on Sunday afternoon at 1:35 p.m. A busy Sunday has a free baseball glove for the first 1,000 kids thanks to Northeast Delta Dental. Fans can use those new gloves - or one of their own - to play catch on the field at 12:25. After the game, all kids can run the bases thanks to the Buyers Beware program. Tickets are available at www.nhfishercats.com, by calling 603-641-2005, and by visiting the stadium box office.

The pitching match-up has Taylor Cole facing Reading's Zach Eflin as each goes for his sixth victory. Tom Gauthier and Bob Lipman have the radio call beginning at 1:15 p.m. on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and www.nhfishercats.com.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from August 1, 2015


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