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Rock Cats Hold On

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


New Britain, CT - New Britain starter Jeff Manship fired seven shutout innings and the Rock Cats survived a scare in the final two innings to hold on for a 7-6 victory over Trenton. The Rock Cats have won seven of the last 10 games.

Manship (2-2) retired the first nine-straight batters and 20 of the 22 batters he faced. Trenton finally got a hit on the board on a leadoff single by Eduardo Nunez in the fourth. The next batter walked and that was all that the Thunder could muster off Manship, who struck out five.

The Rock Cats jumped out in front 1-0 in the first inning. Juan Portes reached base on a walk and Rene Tosoni followed with a double. Portes scored on a groundout by Danny Valencia.

In the second inning, the Rock Cats loaded the bases with a Matt Moses single, a walk, and a fielding error by Trenton first baseman Kevin Smith that allowed Yancarlos Ortiz to reach base safely. Trenton's Alan Horne then hit Brandon Roberts with a pitch that forced in a run.

The Rock Cats took advantage of two walks by Valencia and Whit Robbins to start off the third inning. Moses then singled to center field to knock in Valencia. Brain Dinkelman added an RBI single.

The 'Cats scored three runs in the seventh inning to break open the game. Robbins hit a solo home run to lead of the inning. Roberts tacked on a two-run double.

The Thunder stormed back in the top of the eighth with four runs off reliever Zach Ward, who issued back-to-back walks to the first two batters. Smith then doubled to knock in the Thunder's first run. James Cooper's triple cleared the bases and closed the gap, 7-3. Cooper then scored on a groundout.

Anthony Slama, who has been nearly untouchable all season, entered the game in the ninth to close out the game. He walked the first batter before dishing up a two-run homer to Marcos Vechionacci. Slama then forced Francisco Cervelli to line out to right field for the first out before issuing another walk. Slama settled down to strike out Smith and force a fly out by Cooper to end the game and pick up his third save.

Horne (0-1) lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs. He walked four while striking out five.

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