Rock Cats Paced by Duffey's Nine Strikeouts

Published on July 21, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats snuck by the Altoona Curve by a score of 4-3 at New Britain Stadium on Monday evening.

RHP Tyler Duffey proved to be a tough matchup for opposing hitters once again, earning his third consecutive win and setting a career high with nine strikeouts over seven innings of work.

The early innings were a little rough on the Houston, TX native, seeing Altoona jump out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a blast from 2B Dan Gamache. The Rhode Island native sent Duffey's offering high over the right field wall, his second home run with the Curve. As evidenced by his final line, Tyler would continue to battle and looked stronger as the game moved along.

Not staying down for long, New Britain answered back with two scores of their own in the bottom half of the inning. 3B Brandon Waring drove in a run on productive ground ball out to SS Alen Hanson with runners on second and third to cut the visitor's lead in half. RF Reynaldo Rodriguez, who walked earlier in the inning, was moved to third on a double from LF Mike Kvasnicka and then scampered home on the grounder. 2B Stephen Wickens plated Kvasnicka two batters later, driving the ball past LHP Zack Dodson out to left center.

Dodson ran into some trouble in the bottom of the fourth, as he walked the bases loaded and then was charged with a balk to give the Rock Cats the go-ahead run in a 3-2 ballgame. The lefthander walked seven New Britain batters over four innings but held the offense to just three runs on three hits.

CF Aaron Hicks increased the Rock Cats lead by one with a bloop single that fell in front of LF Willy Garcia and gave New Britain a 4-2 lead after seven innings of play. The base hit scored Wickens, who reached earlier in the inning on a fielder's choice when he attempted to bunt C Matt Koch over to third.

Rock Cats reliever LHP Jim Fuller was called in for the top of the eighth and immediately felt the pressure following back-to-back doubles, pulling Altoona within one. Fuller reared back and pitched his way out of the jam - striking out Hanson and getting 3B Drew Maggi to fly out to right.

The home team looked as if they were going to pull away in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases with one out facing LHP Joely Rodriguez. Altoona called upon All-Star reliever RHP Kenn Kasparek to get out of inning and the 6'10" sidearmer did just that - popping out Rodriguez and getting Kvasnicka to ground out to Gamache.

Outside of the early home run, Duffey was lights out all evening - allowing just the two runs on three hits while walking none and striking out nine - setting a new season and career high. The righthander has now won his last three starts and sports a 6-2 record. RHP Cole Johnson pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out one and earned his seventh save of the year.

In addition to the win, Rock Cats fans were also treated to a viewing and photo opportunity with the Boston Red Sox World Series trophies, commemorating titles won in 2004, 2007 and 2013.

The Cats continue their four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates Double-A affiliate on Tuesday evening - first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m. New Britain will send RHP Virgil Vasquez to the hill and he squares off against Curve starter RHP Joan Montero.

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Eastern League Stories from July 21, 2014


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