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Rock Cats Edge Bowie

August 1, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - Deolis Guerra hurled five solid innings and Brian Dinkelman led the way with three hits as the Rock Cats edged Bowie, 3-2 in the nightcap of Saturday night's doubleheader before of a sellout crowd of 8,079 fans. It was the 18th capacity-filled crowd of the season and the third highest single-game total in the history of New Britain Stadium. The Rock Cats drew 8,000-plus fans for the second time this season, with the first being the highest mark ever earlier this year.

Guerra (4-1) limited the Bay Sox to two runs on four hits in five innings of work. He was backed by timely hitting by his offense.

The Rock Cats took an early 1-0 lead when Steve Singleton opened the bottom of the first with a single and came around to score on a double by Dinkelman.

Bowie bit back in the third. Robert Valido doubled and Jason White knocked him in with a triple to right field to tie the game. A sacrifice fly by Daniel Figueroa knocked in White for the go-ahead run.

Dinkelman continued his hot night at the plate by opening the fourth with a double to right field. Whit Robbins delivered a one-out single to left to drive in Dinkelman to tie the game, 2-2. Singleton added an RBI single to score Robbins to put the Rock Cats back on top. Dinkelman finished the night 3-for-3 with two doubles.

Anthony Slama slammed the door with 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to notch his 22nd save of the season - second-best in the Eastern League.

Timothy Bascom (2-4) scattered seven hits for three runs in five innings to suffer the loss.

(Game 1) In the opening game, the Bay Sox battered Rock Cats starter Cole DeVries around for 10 hits and six earned runs in four innings and held off a late comeback attempt by the Rock Cats in a 7-4 victory.

Jonathan Tucker started the game off with a double to center and moved to third on a Daniel Figueroa groundout. Another groundout - this time by Miguel Abreu - knocked in Tucker for the 1-0 lead. In the second, the Bay Sox broke out for four more runs. Paco Figueroa (3-for-4) opened the inning with a double to center and Dave Krynzel followed with another double to right to score Paco Figueroa. Robert Valido added an RBI single before Daniel Figueroa's RBI triple capped off inning.

Rene Tosoni put the Rock Cats on the board with a two-run single to right field to close the gap, 5-2.

Bowie score again in the fourth on a groundout by Daniel Figueroa that scored Jason White, who reached base on a walk and moved to second on an error by Yancarlos Ortiz. The Bay Sox weren't done as Eric Crozier opened the fifth inning with a triple to center to knock DeVries (6-11) out of the game. Kyle Waldrop came on in relief and immediately allowed a single to Paco Figueroa that plated Crozier for another Bowie run.

Brian Dinkelman slugged a two-run homer for the Rock Cats in the bottom of the sixth. The Rock Cats had the opportunity to do more damage as Ortiz and Rene Tosoni followed with consecutive singles. That brought Major League veteran Mark Grudzielanek to the plate with one out and he grounded to third to move both runners into scoring position. Luke Hughes ended the rally with a grounder to shortstop.

Zach Clark picked up the win out of the bullpen. Clark (1-1) came on in relief of Brian Matusz - who allowed one hit in a scoreless first - and limited the Rock Cats to two runs on six hits. Chad Thall notched his first save of the season with a perfect seventh.

Grudzielanek, who signed as a Minor League free agent with Minnesota last month and was making his Rock Cats debut, finished the game 0-for-4 at the plate.

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