Rock Cats Battle into the 11th, Fall to Sea Dogs 8-5

Published on July 27, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats came up short in extra innings on Sunday afternoon against the Portland Sea Dogs, losing 8-5 in eleven innings. The start time was delayed by one hour and fifteen minutes and the extra inning contest ran almost three and a half hours, making for one long day of baseball.

New Britain LF Tony Thomas came ready to hit in the bottom of the first, cracking a one-out triple off of Portland starter RHP Luiz Diaz. The speedy outfielder came in on a fielder's choice grounder hit to the left side of the diamond by CF Eddie Rosario, giving the Rock Cats an early 1-0 lead.

The Sea Dogs responded with one of their own in the second as 2B Jonathan Roof hit a solo home run off of RHP Virgil Vasquez just past the video board in left field, his third of the season.

New Britain cracked open the game in the bottom of the fourth - picking up four runs on four hits, going up 5-1. 2B Brad Boyer had one of the biggest hits of the inning - a two-run double that scored both DH Brandon Waring and 3B Mike Kvasnicka. The home club also received RBI singles from SS Jorge Polanco and Kvasnicka, who was playing third for the first time this season.

Vasquez ran into a bit of trouble in the top of the sixth as Portland cut the Rock Cats' lead down to one. The visitors collected three runs on five hits - a productive ground out from RF Shannon Wilkerson and a two-run double by LF Keury De La Cruz. The left fielder drove in 3B Sean Coyle and 1B Michael Almanzar, who strung together back-to-back singles to make it a 5-4 ballgame.

The Rock Cats starter had a much easier seventh inning, working a 1-2-3 frame before handing the ball off to Rock Cats reliever RHP Cole Johnson. Vasquez allowed four runs on seven hits while walking none and striking out seven.

Down to their last at-bats, Portland tied the game on a lead-off solo shot from De La Cruz, his third RBI of the day. The left fielder turned on Johnson's pitch and pulled it right over the wall in right to knot the game up 5-5.

The home team had fans on the edge of their seats after loading the bases with two outs in the bottom of the tenth. Portland reliever RHP Dayan Diaz gave up a single to RF Aaron Hicks, a double to Waring and then walked Kvasnicka. 3B Stephen Wickens, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the top of the ninth, gave the ball a ride but it was within reach of CF Derrik Gibson to count for the third out.

Portland pulled away in their half of the eleventh, loading the bases on LHP Ryan O'Rourke before DH Danny Bethea cracked a two-run double over the head of Kvasnicka, who had moved out to left in the ninth. SS Heiker Meneses lifted a sacrifice fly out to left in the following at-bat to score C Michael Brenly, giving the visitors an 8-5 lead.

New Britain's offense made it close in the bottom half of the frame, putting runners on first and second with just one out against RHP Noe Ramirez, who came on to close out the game. Rosario cracked a comebacker that Ramirez was able to field and then converted a 1-6-3 double play to squash the rally and give Portland the win.

O'Rourke, who gave up the three runs on three hits while walking one and striking out one, falls to 1-2 in the extra-inning loss.

The Rock Cats take their show on the road for a quick three-game road trip down to Trenton, NJ to play the Thunder - Double A affiliate of the New York Yankees. LHP Pat Dean gets the nod for New Britain and will be squaring off against RHP Zach Nuding. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from July 27, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central