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Rock Cats - New Hampshire Split Doubleheader

May 22, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


(Game 1)

NEW BRITAIN, CT - Joe Benson delivered a clutch two-run double in the final inning as the Rock Cats walked off with a 6-5 victory over first-place New Hampshire. The Rock Cats drew within one game of a first-place tie after taking the opening game of Sunday's doubleheader.

The game was a back and forth battle until the final inning. The Fisher Cats entered the sixth inning down by one run against reliever Tyler Robertson. He allowed singles to Mike McDade and Travis d'Arnaud before walking Moises Sierra to load the bases with one out. Robertson forced a pop out into foul territory for the second out but Callix Crabbe lined a base hit into center to knock in both runners and put the Fisher Cats on top, 5-4.

The Rock Cats went quickly in the bottom of the sixth but refused to quit in the bottom of the seventh. Steve Singleton led off with a single to center and Chris Hermann reached on a fielder's choice that was fielded by pitcher Evan Crawford (1-1) and resulted in both runners being safe. With Benson at bat, Singleton stole third base before Benson lined a double into left field to knock in the tying and winning runs.

The Rock Cats took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Herrmann drew a one-out walk and moved to third on Chris Parmelee's base hit to right field with two outs. Chad Beck then plunked Evan Bigley with a pitch to load the bases. Yangervis Solarte, the Rock Cats' batting leader, lined a single into center field to knock in Herrmann for the first run of the game. Parmelee attempted to score on the hit as well but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

New Hampshire answered back in the second inning. Deolis Guerra walked Sierra to open the inning and d'Arnaud followed with a base hit. Both runners scored on a one out double by Craig Stansberry. It appeared that d'Arnaud would be thrown out at home but Herrmann dropped the ball for an error during a collision at the plate. Crabbe then hit a fielder's choice to Parmlee at first base. Parmelee threw to home but a throwing error allowed Stansberry to score to put the Fisher Cats on top, 3-1.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Rock Cats drew closer when Singleton doubled to right to score Mike Holliman, who had reached base on a walk.

Holliman blasted a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Rock Cats the lead for the second time of the day, 4-3.

Robertson picked up the win despite allowing the go-ahead runs in the sixth inning. Robertson (3-2) finished with two runs on four hits in two innings.

ALLSTATE PLAYER OF THE GAME: CF Joe Benson, who has hit just .214 in May, came through in the clutch with a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Rock Cats the victory. He finished the game 1-for-4 at the plate.

(Game 2)

NEW BRITAIN, CT - New Hampshire's Joel Carreno shut down the Rock Cats' bats while John Tolisano and Yan Gomes homered to lead the Fisher Cats to a 4-0 shutout to split Sunday's doubleheader. With the win, the Fisher Cats regained its two-game lead over the Rock cats in the standings.

The Fisher Cats got on the board first when Tolisano led off the third inning with a shot over the right field wall for a 1-0 advantage.

New Hampshire struck again in the sixth when Mike McDade singled to center to knock in Darin Mastroianni.

Gomes added a two-run homer off Cole DeVries in the seventh to put the game away for the Fisher Cats.

Carreno (3-3) struggled with control all day, including walking five and unleashing two wild pitches, but he shutout the Rock Cats through six innings. He struck out seven while limiting the Rock Cats to just one hit, a single by Chris Herrmann in the fifth inning.

Steve Hirschfeld (3-1) turned in another quality start for New Britain, limiting the Fisher Cats to two runs on three hits in six innings. He struck out six but came away with the hard luck loss.

ALLSTATE PLAYER OF THE GAME: 2B John Tolisano went 1-for-3 with a solo home run the put the Fisher Cats ahead 1-0 in the third inning. It proved to be the winning run.



Eastern League Stories from May 22, 2011


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