Rock Cats Break Record with 10th Straight Win; Defeat Reading 5-2

Published on June 21, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats downed the Reading Fightin' Phils by the score of 5-2 on Saturday evening at New Britain Stadium. The win marks the Cats' tenth straight victory, dating back to June 10 in Reading, surpassing a franchise mark of nine that was set initially June 9-19, 1998 and matched July 17-26 in 2005.

The Cats and Fightin' Phils played to a capacity crowd of 8,396 - good for fourth place all-time in franchise history and it was also the second contest with 8,000+ fans in attendance this season.

Rock Cats starter LHP Jason Wheeler was very impressive while earning the win in his Eastern League debut - working six and one-third innings, giving up just one run on seven hits, walking one and striking out seven.

The Phillies affiliate drew first blood against Wheeler in the top of the first, going up 1-0. LF Albert Cartwright, who singled up the middle to start the game, scored on a base hit to left-center from CF Aaron Atherr.

New Britain picked up right where they left off from last night's ten run, thirteen hit attack - opening up with a four run frame against Reading starter RHP Perci Garner. Both CF Aaron Hicks and LF Eddie Rosario scored on a bouncing grounder hit by 3B Nate Hanson that was mishandled by his counterpart at third, Anthony Phillips. DH Reynaldo Rodriguez chipped in with an RBI double that pushed Hanson across the plate and then it was 1B Kennys Vargas who hurried home on a sacrifice fly hit by SS Brad Boyer.

The Cats' went up 5-1 after the bottom of the second courtesy of heads-up base running from Rosario. The speedy leftfield scored all the way from first on a single out to left-center from Hanson, never stopping at third and beating the throw to the plate.

Reading cut the Rock Cats lead to three in the top of the third inning on an RBI single from Phillips.

The Rock Cats bullpen locked down the final two and two-thirds innings - seeing RHP Cole Johnson (one and two-third innings, two strikeouts, third hold of 2014) and RHP Lester Oliveros (one inning, one strikeout, eleventh save) slam the door shut on the Phils'.

Garner suffered the loss, falling to 4-4. He lasted six innings, giving up five runs, three earned, on five hits while walking five and striking out two.

New Britain aims to complete the three-game sweep on Sunday afternoon, as they send RHP Tyler Duffey to face former big-leaguer LHP Adam Loewen, who has revived his pitching career once again in the Phillies system. Fans saw him last playing 1B/DH up in New Hampshire the past few seasons. First pitch is slated for 1:35 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from June 21, 2014


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