EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Polanco works 3.2 scoreless innings in 3-0 loss to Defenders

Published on May 10, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


Manchester, NH-Celson Polanco worked a season-high 3.2 scoreless innings of relief of spot starter Nate Starner, who yielded just one run in a season-best four innings, but 20-year-old right-hander Tim Alderson stole the show in the Connecticut Defenders' 3-0 victory over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Mother's Day at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.

Alderson (1-0), the San Francisco Giants' first-round draft pick in 2007, pitched no-hit baseball for 6.2 innings in his Double-A debut. He notched 10 strikeouts and retired 18 straight batters before issuing a one-out walk to David Cooper (0-for-3, BB) in the bottom of the seventh. Alderson retired one more batter before departing.

New Hampshire (17-13) spoiled the no-hitter when Al Quintana (1-for-3) grounded a single off reliever Jesse Foppert with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. That would be the Fishers' only hit of the contest.

Connecticut (14-15) strung together three consecutive hits off Starner (0-1) in the top of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. Jackson Williams (1-for-3, 2B, R) doubled, advanced to third when Sharon Schoop (1-for-3, BB) singled and scored when Brandon Crawford (2-for-4, RBI) looped a single to right field for his first career Eastern League hit and RBI.

Starner scattered five hits over four innings, allowing one run with two walks and a strikeout. Polanco kept the score 1-0 by allowing only three singles in his 3.2 frames with one walk and one strikeout.

The Fisher Cats' defense turned five double-plays, and catcher Brian Jeroloman threw out two of three runners attempting stolen bases.

Antoan Richardson stole second after pinch-running for Eddy Martinez-Esteve (2-for-3, BB), who led off the ninth with a single off New Hampshire reliever Leon Boyd. Following a walk to Mike Mooney (1-for-3, BB, R), Brad Boyer (1-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI) stroked a two-run triple to the wall in center, giving the Defenders a 3-0 lead.

Matt Yourkin came on with two men on and one out in the bottom of the ninth, retiring the only two batters he faced to register his first save.

After dropping two out of three to the Defenders, the first-place Fisher Cats open a three-game series against the Binghamton Mets at Merchantsauto.com Stadium on Monday night at 6:35pm. Right-hander Rey Gonzalez (1-0, 1.70) gets the start for New Hampshire. Binghamton has not named its starting pitcher for the game. Radio coverage begins with the BayRing Pre-Game Show at 6:15pm on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network with Mike Murphy and Bob Lipman.

Monday night is CCSNH Reading Challenge Night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. For tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from May 10, 2009


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