Rock Cats Stay Alive with 6-1 Win

Published on September 12, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - Brian Dinkelman homered twice to lead the Rock Cats to a 6-1 victory over the Defenders and keep the season alive another day. The Rock Cats now trail the best-of-five series two games to one and will look to even the series tomorrow afternoon at New Britain Stadium.

Dinkelman (3-for-4, 3 R, 3 RBI) gave the Rock Cats a 1-0 lead when he led off with a home run off Craig Clark to right field in the second inning.

In the top of the fourth, the Defenders tied it up on a double by Ramon Castro that knocked in Brett Pill. The tie didn't last long as Dinkelman struck again in the bottom of the inning. Wilson Ramos led off with a base hit to left and Juan Portes popped out to short before Dinkelman sent another Clark pitch over the right field wall for the 3-1 advantage. It was Dinkelman's third home run of the postseason. He also had two highlight reel catches in left field.

The Rock Cats sent Ryan Mullins - the team leader in wins and the league leader in strikeouts - out to the mound to start the third game of the playoffs in a win-or-go-home situation. Mullins (1-0) turned in a solid start, limiting the Defenders to one run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. He struck out five.

Whit Robbins put the game away with a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh.

Kyle Waldrop finished off the seventh inning and closer Alex Burnett came on to fire two scoreless innings to secure the victory. Burnett allowed just one hit while striking out five.

Clark (0-1), who was making his Double-A debut for the Defenders, finished with three runs on four hits through five innings. He had gone 16-2 with a 2.86 ERA for San Jose of the California League this season before being summoned by the Defenders to fill in for top prospect Madison Bumgarner, who made his Major League Debut with the Giants.

The Rock Cats will host Game 4 of the Northern Divisional Series tomorrow at 1:35 P.M. The 'Cats must win to keep the season alive.

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Eastern League Stories from September 12, 2009


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