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Rock Cats Fall Short

September 3, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats committed three errors - two of which led to Reading runs - and fell short in a ninth inning rally to fall to the Phillies, 3-1. Combined with a Trenton victory, the Rock Cats now cling to a one-game lead for second place in the Northern Division for the final playoff spot.

A throwing error by shortstop Steve Singleton allowed Neil Sellers to reach first base safely to open the second inning. Sellers moved to third on a line drive to center by Brian Stavisky and scored on Tim Kennelly's sacrifice fly.

The R-Phils struck again in the fourth with Kevin Mahar leading off with a single and Sellers following with a double to put both runners in scoring position. Cole DeVries struck out Stavisky for the first out of the inning before Kennelly knocked in Mahar with a groundout back to the pitcher's mound. DeVries then was charged with a wild pitch that Galvis swung at for the third strike, but the ball sailed to the backstop allowing Galvis to reach first and Sellers to cross the plate for another Reading run.

The Rock Cats didn't go down quietly, drawing two walks to open the bottom of the ninth courtesy of eight-straight balls by Reading reliever Scott Mathieson - who had retired the side in the eighth. Alejandro Machado then worked a 3-2 count against Mathieson before grounding out to third and Luke Hughes popped out. With two outs, Erik Lis drove in Yancarlos Ortiz to put the Rock Cats on the board and keep the inning alive. That brought the hot-hitting Wilson Ramos to the plate and he lined a shot down the right field line that was caught in foul territory for the final out of the game.

Chance Chapman tossed five shutout innings for the Phillies, limiting the league's top-hitting team to two hits and no walks. Chapman (7-1) struck out three in his first start of the season with Reading. His lone start this season came with Clearwater of the Florida State League. Mike Zagurski struck out three in two scoreless innings in relief. Mathieson notched his first save of the season.

DeVries (7-14) tossed 5 2/3 solid innings - allowing three runs (2 ER) on five hits and struck out six. He fell to 1-11 in starts at New Britain Stadium. Carlos Gutierrez and Frank Mata combined for 3 1/3 shutout innings in relief out of the Rock Cats' bullpen.

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Eastern League Stories from September 3, 2009


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