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Rock Cats Hold off Trenton, Creep Closer to Playoffs

September 4, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - Trenton erupted for a six-run seventh to battle back and tie the game but the Rock Cats struck last as Wilson Ramos delivered a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth to give the Rock Cats an 8-7 victory on Friday night.

Ramos brought a sellout crowd of 7,417 to its' feet as he ripped a line drive down the right field line to knock in Luke Hughes - who led off the inning with a walk - from first base for the winning run. The Rock Cats (70-68) took a two game lead on the Thunder (68-70) and need to win one of the final three games in the four-game series to take second place in the Northern Division. The second place team will secure the final spot in the divisional playoffs.

The game looked like it would be a blowout as the Rock Cats jumped on Trenton's Jeremy Bleich out of the gate. Leadoff batter Brian Dinkelman started the inning off with a base hit to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. It was only the beginning of Bleich's struggle with control. The Rock Cats went on to score four times in the first, including an RBI single by Ramon Santana - his first hit in his first at-bat since being promoted from Low Class-A Beloit - that knocked in Dinkelman for the first run of the game. Wilson Ramos and Alejandro Machado added RBI singles in the inning.

Yancarlos Ortiz ripped a triple to right field that knocked in two more runs in the third inning to put the Rock Cats ahead, 6-0. In the fourth, Steve Singleton added another run with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Santana.

Deaolis Guerra took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, but allowed a leadoff double to Richie Robnett. Edwar Gonzalez then delivered a base hit to center that scored Robnett to break up the shutout. Guerra rebounded to cruise through the sixth before the wheels fell off in the seventh.

Trenton erupted for six runs in the top of the seventh. Robnett opened the inning with a walk and Gonzalez and P.J. Pilittere followed with back-to-back singles to load up the bases before Guerra forced in a run by issuing a walk to Marcos Vechionacci. The Rock Cats turned to the bullpen and sent Spencer Steedley to the mound and the Thunder countered with pinch hitter Noah Hall. With the bases loaded, Hall drilled a line drive triple into right field to close the gap, 7-4. Matthew Cusick added a one-out RBI single that plated Hall to bring the Thunder within two runs.

The Thunder weren't done as Kyle Waldrop took the mound with one out in place of Steedley. He struck out the first batter he faced before allowing a base hit to Chris Malec. The inning appeared to be over but Machado committed a fielding error on a ball off of Robnett's bat that allowed Cusick to score the tying run. Malec was thrown out at third on the play to end the inning.

Frank Mata (2-4) tossed a perfect ninth to keep the game tied and keep the Rock Cats' hopes alive. Guerra finished with five runs on six hits in six innings.

Kanekoa Texeira (8-6) suffered the loss after pitching the ninth inning for Trenton.

PLAYOFF WATCH: The Thunder came into town on Friday for a four-game series that will decide the second-place team and final playoff spot in the Northern Division...The Rock Cats now hold a two game lead in the playoff race and need to only win one of the final three games to clinch a playoff spot...The Defenders (Northern Division) and Akron Aeros (Southern) have both secured division titles...The second place team from each division will also advance to the Eastern League playoffs...Reading, Erie and Bowie are all contenders for the final Southern Division playoff spot with the R-Phils leading the way.

ROSTER MOVES: The Rock Cats will place Luke Hughes on the temporary inactive list as he is headed to take part in the World Baseball Cup in Europe for Team Australia.

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