Rock Cats Battle All Night; Come up Short in 11-6 Loss to Baysox

Published on August 14, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats were defeated by the Bowie BaySox by the score of 11-6 on Thursday evening at New Britain Stadium.

BaySox starter LHP Jake Pettit had his evening cut unexpectedly short - throwing just seven pitches in the first inning before being struck just below the right knee on a line drive from RF Eddie Rosario. Pettit would be pulled from the game and RHP Matt Bischoff took over with the bases loaded and no outs. The right-hander held the Rock Cats to just one run, a sacrifice fly from DH Reynaldo Rodriguez that scored 2B Levi Michael, before recording back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the jam.

Bowie would tie the game up 1-1 in the top of the second on a productive ground ball out. Two singles and a walk issued by Rock Cats starter LHP Pat Dean loaded the bases for the BaySox and it was DH David Adams who scored from third on a grounder from LF Glynn Davis.

New Britain broke the game open in the bottom half of the fourth, scoring four times on a four hits. 1B Mike Gonzales started the run parade with a single up the middle that plated both 3B Nate Hanson and LF Tony Thomas. Bischoff was relieved four batters later after loading the bases and RF Eddie Rosario promptly ripped a base hit through the hole at second to score both Gonzales and Michael, putting the Rock Cats ahead 5-1.

Dean ran into trouble in the top of the sixth, giving up two singles and hitting a batter to start the frame. 1B Chris Marrero changed the contest with one swing, sending the left-hander's offering high off the video board in left field and tying the game up 5-5. Bowie tacked on one more run to take the lead before Dean gave way to the bullpen. RHP Adrian Salcedo would close out the inning but not before CF Mike Yastrzemski lined a double out to deep center over CF Corey Wimberly's head, driving in C David Freitas all the way from second to give Bowie a 7-5 advantage.

The visitors increased their lead by one in the seventh inning, an RBI single from Marrero off of RHP Jason Adam that scored 2B Buck Britton, who also singled earlier in the inning. Adam was making his Rock Cats debut after coming over in a trade with Kansas City that sent OF Josh Willingham to the Royals.

Michael collected his first Eastern League RBI in the bottom of the eighth to pull the Cats' within two. His bloop single out to shallow right scored the speedy Wimberly from second base, making it an 8-6 contest. Wimberly doubled in the previous at-bat, his first game back with the club since June 29th.

Three more runs in the ninth gave Bowie an 11-6 lead, their biggest offensive output during the three-game series.

Dean falls to 7-9 in the defeat - giving up seven runs, five earned, on eight hits while walking just one and striking out three.

The Baysox bullpen was called upon early and they were up to the task, rolling out four relievers over the nine innings. LHP Ashur Tolliver improved to 3-1 after throwing 2 2/3 of shutout relief, allowing just two hits while walking none and striking out three. RHP Oliver Drake struck out five over the two-inning save, earning his 26th of the year.

Friday marks the arrival of the Harrisburg Senators, Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, as they'll start up a three-game series. LHP Taylor Rogers gets the nod for the Rock Cats as he squares off against RHP James Simmons - first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from August 14, 2014


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