EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Reyes Lifts Fisher Cats to 6-2 Victory in Debut

Published on July 16, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


Jo-Jo Reyes (1-0, 0.00) made his Fisher Cats debut on Friday, and kept the Binghamton Mets hitless through 7.1 innings on the way to a 6-2 victory in front of 6,012 fans at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.

Reyes, who came to the Blue Jays organization from the Braves in the trade involving shortstop Alex Gonzalez earlier this week, had his no-hit bid erased when Jonathan Malo doubled with one out in the top of the eighth. Reyes only allowed only four batters to reach base; two on base on balls, the lone hit and an error committed in the seventh. The right-hander also struck out six Mets hitters.

Two defensive plays kept the no-no in tact through 7.1 innings. Second baseman Jonathan Diaz laid out to his left to stab a line drive in the first inning. First baseman David Cooper also scooped up a broken-bat grounder in the sixth, and used a pop-up slide to just beat out the runner trying to break up the no-hit bid.

After a 1:13 rain delay, the Fisher Cats (56-37) didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard. Back-to-back extra-base hits from the first two batters helped give New Hampshire the 2-0 advantage. Darin Mastroianni (2 for 4, 2 runs) started the frame by going the opposite way with a line drive down the right field line for a triple. The centerfielder then scored on a passed ball before Adeiny Hechavarria (2 for 4, 2 RBI) could even lace his double into the right-center gap. Hechavarria was plated four batters later when Adam Loewen (1 for 3) ripped a two-out, RBI single in front of the charging right fielder.

Mastroianni and Hechavarria worked their magic again in the bottom of the second inning. Mastroianni got the two-out rally started by singling to center, and stealing second on a pickoff attempt. Hechavarria then produced a single to bring home Mastroianni and stretch the lead to 3-0.

Eric Thames followed up his 4-for-4 night on Thursday by going deep on Friday to drive the score to 4-0. Thames hit the solo-shot over the right-field fence on a 0-1 pitch with two outs in the bottom of the third. The blast was the designated hitter's 17th home run of the season, tying him with Shawn Bowman for the Fisher Cats team-high.

Binghamton starter and loser Robert Carson (0-1, 9.00) worked his first frame without relinquishing a run in the fourth, but had to hand the ball over to the bullpen from that point on. The south paw ended his night after four innings pitched, allowing four earned runs on seven hits, while striking out four and walking two.

New Hampshire loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but only managed to get one run across the plate to bring the score to 5-0. Hechavarria recorded his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to score Diaz, who reached on a fielder's choice.

Loewen scored the Fisher Cats final run to make it 6-0 by reaching on a two-out walk in the seventh. He went from first to third on a single by Cooper and came home when Diaz singled to left.

Binghamton (49-44) ruined the shutout in the top of the ninth off of reliever B.J. LaMura. Josh Satin, who reached on a fielder's choice scored on a double by Marshall Hubbard, which got stuck between the pads in center field. Hubbard then made the score 6-2 off of a single by Raul Reyes.

The Fisher Cats will play the third of four games scheduled in the series against the Mets on Saturday at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. All-Star starter Kyle Drabek (9-8, 3.03) will be matched up against Binghamton's right-hander Josh Stinson (6-1, 3.31). Fisher Cats Pre Game begins at 6:45 p.m. on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network with Bob Lipman.

Be sure to come out and show your support of the Pan-Mass Challenge and Team Emma's Enchantment on PMC Night, as we help to raise to raise money for pediatric cancer research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. An Atlas Fireworks Show will follow Saturday night's contest and fans can play USA Subs Baseball Bingo. For tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005.




Eastern League Stories from July 16, 2010


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