Rock Cats' bats pave way for 12-4 win

May 1, 2007 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - New Britain pounded out a season-high 17 hits, including four apiece by Rashad Eldridge and Brian Buscher, as the Rock Cats downed Binghamton 12-4 at New Britain Stadium.

The Rock Cats were down 3-0 after a half inning of play, but clawed back for the lead in the third inning and never looked back. Eldridge finished the night with two doubles and a home run with four RBI and two runs scored while Buscher added a double, three RBI singles, and scored a run.

Eldridge made his first home run with the Rock Cats a dramatic one. With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, he sent the ball over the right field wall to give the Rock Cats a 5-3 lead. Molina singled to lead off the inning. Trevor Plouffe drew a walk and Garrett Guzman followed with a single to load the bases. Buscher's single to right field scored Molina to close the gap to 3-1. Eldridge then came through with the grand slam for the lead. It was the second grand slam for the Rock Cats in the past week.

Rock Cats' starter Nick Blackburn started off with a shaky first inning, allowing consecutive singles by Fernando Martinez and Enrique Cruz before walking Miguel Negron to load the bases. Martinez scored on Mike Carp's groundout to first base for the 1-0 lead. Brett Harper followed with a grounder to Buscher at third that scored Negron when Buscher fired home and catcher Kyle Geiger couldn't hold on to the ball. Center fielder Brandon Roberts put an end to the inning with a spectacular running catch on a fly ball by Mike Nickeas. Negron scored before Roberts fired the ball to Plouffe who threw to first baseman Brock Peterson to complete the double play and end the inning.

Blackburn (1-0) settled down and finished with four runs (1 ER) on six hits and one walk. He struck out five.

Buscher added two more RBI singles, one in the sixth and one in the seventh. Plouffe finished 2-for-3, including a two-run double in the seventh, and scored three runs.

The Rock Cats struck again in the eighth inning with five-straight hits to open the inning. Eldridge doubled and scored on a double by Peterson. Geiger singled and then Roberts' single scored Peterson. Felix Molina (2-for-5, 2 R) added an RBI single that scored Geiger.

Jay Sawatski tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the 'Cats. He allowed just one hit.

The Rock Cats struck for five runs and eight hits off B-Mets' starter Jose Sanchez (0-1). He walked four in 4 1/3 innings. Brandon Nall surrendered six runs on six hits in just one inning of work



Eastern League Stories from May 1, 2007


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