Rock Cats Score Three in the Seventh; Rally Falls Short in 9-6 Loss

Published on June 10, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats fell to the Harrisburg Senators by the score of 9-6 on Wednesday evening at New Britain Stadium.

Rock Cats starter RHP Matt Flemer struggled early - allowing six runs in his first three innings, highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of 1B Matt Skole in the top of the third. With CF Brian Goodwin and RF Drew Vettleson on second and third, Skole sent the first pitch he saw from Flemer high over the right field wall - his team-leading ninth of the season.

New Britain broke up RHP Austin Voth's bid at a no-hitter and shutout in the very same play - a lead-off home run from 1B Will Swanner in the bottom of the third inning. The infielder snuck a drive around the left field foul pole, continuing his recent power surge. Swanner has now hit three home runs in the last four games. The Rock Cats picked up a second run before the end of the frame as 3B Trevor Story doubled home Flemer, who had a double to the gap in right-center himself.

The Senators answered back with two more runs in the top of the fourth, both coming on a double from Goodwin, scoring both Voth and SS Wilmer Difo. Like his counterpart, Voth batted safely in the game - a single up the middle - and scored his first run of the season.

Story walloped a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, making it an 8-3 contest. The infielder's long ball was fourth and final hit Voth would allow for the night.

Down by five in the bottom of the seventh, Rock Cats batters feasted on LHP Sammy Solis, who is in the midst of an MLB rehab assignment. LF Tyler Massey and 2B Juan Ciriaco collected back-to-back singles and it was Swanner who doubled them both home to pull New Britain within three.

RHP Gilberto Mendez relieved Solis, who failed to record an out, allowed an RBI double to CF Mike Tauchman but then was able to pitch out of a bases-loaded situation without any further damage.

Flemer allowed eight runs on ten hits over five and two-thirds innings of work. The righthander walked just one while striking out three, falling to 1-3 in the losing effort.

Voth was relieved by Solis after six innings of innings of work, allowing three runs on four hits while walking none and striking out eight. He improves to 3-4 while a trio of relievers - Mendez, LHP Bryan Harper and RHP Sam Runion figured into the decision. Mendez and Harper both recorded holds while Runion nailed down his first save of the year.

Rock Cats LHP Ryan Carpenter gets the call for Thursday morning's game, the final of a four-game series. Harrisburg counters with LHP Matthew Spann, who makes his third start for the Nationals' Eastern League partner.

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Eastern League Stories from June 10, 2015


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