Rock Cats Split Doubleheader; Lose 5-4, Win Nightcap 6-5

Published on August 13, 2013 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats split Tuesday's doubleheader against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats - losing the first game 5-4 and winning game two in comeback fashion, 6-5. The Rock Cats scored three times in the bottom of the seventh, with the winning run coming on a wild pitch issued during an intentional walk to LF Reynaldo Rodriguez.

Game One

New Hampshire jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning after LF Ryan Schimpf hit a solo shot off of Rock Cats starter RHP D.J. Baxendale. The hit was Schimpf's first since July 28th.

With two outs in the top of the third, the Fisher Cats launched back to back home runs, coming off the bats of 3B Andy Burns and 1B Adam Loewen. New Hampshire made it a 4-0 game after RF Brad Glenn, who reached on an infield single, scored when C A.J. Jimenez advanced to second on a throwing error by 2B A.J. Pettersen.

The Rock Cats clawed back to get within one in the bottom of the fourth. RF Evan Bigley drove home C Dan Rohlfing with a double off the wall in right-center. 1B Reynaldo Rodriguez followed up with a two-run home run to deep left field off of Fisher Cats starter LHP Sean Nolin to make it a 4-3 ballgame. The blast was Rodriguez's fourth in his last three games.

The Fisher Cats put up an insurance run in the fifth when Burns drove in CF Kenny Wilson all the way from first with a double off the wall in left-center. Burns was tagged out after he was caught between second and third, but the damage had already been done.

New Britain once again got within a run in the bottom half of the fifth when 3B Miguel Sano sent Nolin's offering over the left field wall for his 14th home run of the season. SS Danny Santana was picked off earlier in the at-bat, leaving the bases empty for Sano's roundtripper.

Rodriguez appeared to have tied up the game with a solo shot to lead off the sixth, but a foul ball call by 3B umpire Nic Lentz wiped the play away. This drew the ire of manager Jeff Smith, who argued the call until he was ejected by Lentz.

Both starters went the distance in the shortened game, with the Rock Cats outhitting New Hampshire 9-8. Nolin allowed four runs, all earned, on nine runs while walking one and striking out four and improved his record to 8-3. Baxendale allowed five runs, all earned, while giving up eight hits, walking one and striking out six. His record drops to 4-6.

Game Two

The Rock Cats took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on three hits and two errors, allowing New Britain to keep moving around the bases. 1B Nate Hanson knocked home RF Evan Bigley, who led off the inning with a single. CF Angel Morales drove in Hanson on a fielder's choice to third base and C Kyle Knudson scored when SS Danny Santana sent a shot up the middle that was misplayed by SS Andy Burns.

New Hampshire cut into that lead when 1B Glen Jacobo sent RHP Matt Houser's pitch over the center field wall for a two-run homer, scoring LF Adam Loewen, who walked earlier in the inning.

Jacobo struck again in the top of the sixth, this time off Rock Cats reliever RHP Daniel Turpen. With two on, the first baseman hammered Turpen's offering to almost the same spot he homered to back in the fourth. Jacobo's fifth home run of the season made it a 5-3 game for the Fisher Cats.

New Britain came all the way back in the bottom of the seventh on the power of doubles by Knudson, Morales and 2B Eddie Rosario. After Morales doubled in Knudson, who led off the inning, Santana laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Morales to third. Rosario then doubled home Morales to make it a 5-5 game.

After new reliever RHP Alan Farina intentionally walked 3B Miguel Sano, he struck out Evan Bigley to make it two outs. In striking out Bigley, Farina threw a wild pitch that allowed Rosario to move to third. This brought DH Reynaldo Rodriguez to the plate with runners on second and third with two outs. After Rodriguez ran the count to 3-0, C Jack Murphy called for the intentional walk to create a force out, bases loaded situation. Farina uncorked a wild pitch that sailed over Murphy's head and allowed Rosario to scamper run with the winning run.

Rock Cats reliever RHP Dakota Watts earned the win in his one inning of work, improving his record to 2-0. New Hampshire's RHP Randy Boone took the loss and his record drops to 3-1.

New Britain sends RHP B.J. Hermsen to the mound for Wednesday night's contest. He will face New Hampshire's RHP Kyle Drabek. The game will start at 7:05 P.M.

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