Rock Cats Break Out The Bats

Published on August 4, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - The top of the New Britain lineup provided the spark that the offense needed as the Rock Cats survived a late scare to hold on for an 8-6 victory over Altoona on Saturday night.

Leadoff man Aaron Hicks and Chris Herrmann combined for six of the Rock Cats' 14 hits and five RBI. James Beresford added three hits batting in the ninth spot.

The Rock Cats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Hicks led off with a single into left field and stole his team-leading 24th base with one out. Joe Benson then lined out to first base but Hicks was able to move to third on a throwing error by Matt Curry. Another miscue - this time a wild pitch by Kris Johnson - allowed Hicks to cross the plate for the first run of the night.

Altoona answered back in the second when Ramon Cabrera led off with a single and came around to score on a double play ground out by Stefan Welch that tied the game.

In the third, the Rock Cats took advantage of another Curve miscue. Nate Hanson reached base on a throwing error by shortstop Brock Holt to open the inning. Beresford followed with a bunt single before Hicks grounded out into a force out that put Hanson at third. Herrmann then delivered a single into right to score Hanson to regain the lead, 2-1.

The Curve tied the game on Oscar Tejeda's RBI single to shallow right field that resulted in a throwing error by Hanson and put runners on the corners with no outs. Matt Curry added an RBI sacrifice fly to put the Curve back on top by one.

Hicks led off the bottom of the fifth by crushing a solo home run over the left field wall that tied the game, 3-3. Herrmann and Benson followed with consecutive singles and Chris Colabello reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Deibinson Romero delivered a sacrifice fly to right to plate Herrmann for the go-ahead run.

Herrmann added a two-run single in the sixth that put the `Cats up by three runs. Beresford and Hicks each added an RBI single in the seventh.

Rock Cats relief pitchers Jose Gonzalez (1-0) and Dakota Watts dazzled out of the bullpen, combining for four shutout innings.

Altoona made things in the ninth, scoring three runs off Edgar Ibarra but Matthew Hauser came on to close out the game. Hauser picked up his first Eastern League save.

Johnson (0-1) was hammered for 11 hits and allowed six runs - four earned - in six innings to suffer the loss.

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Eastern League Stories from August 4, 2012


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