Rock Cats Claw Back For Dramatic 7-6 Victory

Published on April 24, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT -The Rock Cats scored five runs in the seventh inning to storm back from a five-run deficit and Nate Hanson delivered the walk-off RBI double in the ninth to defeat Portland, 7-6 on Tuesday night. The Rock Cats (13-6) remain in a tie for first place.

Sea Dogs starter Billy Buckner dazzled through six innings, striking out 11 Rock Cats batters while limiting the team to one run on three hits.

"In the first six innings, I don't think anyone said a word. (Buckner) had us mesmerized a little bit," said Manager Jeff Smith. "After that we came back. We came to life a little bit. The rest is history."

Down by five runs, the Rock Cats' bats came alive in the bottom of the seventh. After two quick outs, Pedro Florimon reached base on a walk and Danny Lehmann and James Beresford followed with consecutive singles to load the bases. Aaron Hicks came through in the clutch with a base hit to right field to plate Florimon. Herrmann then drew a bases loaded walk to force in Lehmann from third and cut the lead in half, 6-3. Evan Bigley then knocked in Beresford with a hit to shortstop that was originally scored a fielder's choice but changed to a base hit to bring the `Cats within one run. Chris Colabello kept the inning alive with a base hit to center to score Hicks to tie the game, 6-6.

In the final frame, Chris Herrmann started things off with a line drive single into left field and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Bigley. Relief man Josh Fields intentionally walked Colabello before forcing Deibinson Romero to hit into a pop out behind the plate for the second out of the inning. On a 3-1 count, Hanson dropped a fly ball into center to score Herrmann for the game winner.

The comeback erased a forgettable start by Logan Darnell, who labored through three innings. He allowed six runs on eight hits and four walks.

The Sea Dogs struck early against Darnell, putting two runs on the board in the first inning. Leadoff batter Jeremy Hazelbaker greeted Darnell with a single to right field and Derrik Gibson followed with a base hit of his own. Darnell forced Kolbrin Vitek into a double play, but Hazelbaker crossed the plate for the first run of the night. Reynaldo Rodriguez reached on an infield single back to Darnell before stealing second base with Oscar Tejeda at the plate. Tejeda then lined a double into center to score Rodriguez for the 2-0 lead.

Rock Cats left fielder Chris Herrmann cut the lead in half with a solo shot over the center field wall in the bottom of the inning.

The Sea Dogs' Ronald Bermudez answered back with a leadoff homer in the second inning. Tejeda added a two-run shot in the third inning to break open the game, 5-1.

The Rock Cats bullpen duo of Lester Oliveros and Brett Jacobson combined for four shutout innings in relief to keep the Sea Dogs from committing any further damage and make the comeback possible. Deolis Guerra (2-0) entered the game in the eighth and struck out five in two shutout innings of relief to pick up the win.

Will Latimer (1-2) suffered the loss for the Sea Dogs (5-15).

ALLSTATE PLAYER OF THE GAME: 1B Nate Hanson delivered the walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Rock Cats a 7-6 win over the Sea Dogs.

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Eastern League Stories from April 24, 2012


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