Rock Cats Stay in Race by Topping Trenton

Published on September 4, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - The Rock Cats pounded out 19 hits - led by four-hit performances by Yangervis Solarte, Chris Herrmann and Deibinson Romero - to defeat Trenton, 12-9 on Sunday afternoon.

Both teams combined for 33 hits on the day in a game which the Rock Cats were trying to keep its playoff hopes in tact and the Thunder were trying to play spoiler.

The Thunder scored three runs in the top of the first against starting pitcher Bobby Lanigan. Austin Krum led the game off with a line drive single into right field and moved to second on Robert Lyerly's one-out base hit to center. Lanigan struck out Zoilo Almonte before Melky Mesa laced a single into center that knocked in Krum. Damon Sublett then lined a double down the right field line to plate two more runs.

The Rock Cats managed a run in the bottom of the inning. Brian Dozier and Solarte opened the inning with consecutive singles to put runners on the corners with no outs. Dozier crossed the plate when Joe Benson grounded into a force out to put the Rock Cats on the board, 3-1.

In the fourth, the Rock Cats broke out the bats to give Lanigan some run support. Evan Bigley led off with a ground-rule double to left field and Herrmann drew a walk. Romero then doubled to left to knock in Bigley. Mike Hollimon followed with a sacrifice fly to score Herrmann to tie the game. Danny Lehmann reached base on a throwing error by shortstop Jose Pirela before a passed ball with Dozier at the plate allowed Romero to cross the plate to put the Rock Cats on top, 4-3.

Benson led off the fifth with a double and scored on Herrmann's base hit with one out to extend the Rock Cats' lead.

Lanigan, who threw 31 pitches in the first inning, rebounded to retire the next nine-straight batters. He kept the Thunder off the board until the sixth inning when Corban Joseph singled and Lyerly doubled. Joseph scored on Mesa's base hit to tie the game again.

The Rock Cats answered back with a six-run sixth inning explosion against reliever Pat Venditte. Hollimon led off the inning with a free pass and Lehmann followed with a double to left. With Dozier at the plate, Venditte unleashed a wild pitch that allowed Hollimon to cross the plate for the go-ahead run. Dozier then dropped a base hit into left to knock in Lehmann. Solarte followed with a double before Benson lined an RBI single into left. Chris Parmelee added an RBI single and Herrmann rounded out the scoring by lacing a two-run double into center field to blow open the game, 11-5.

The seventh inning started with a highlight reel by Benson in center field in which he raced to his right and back to towards the wall, lept in the air out-stretched and grabbed the ball in mid-air. He landed hard on the ground, but held his glove up to signal the catch. He remained on the ground momentarily before being attended to by the manager and trainer but he remained in the game. Krum then doubled before Joseph launched a home run over the right field wall to close the gap, 11-7.

Hollimon added an RBI sacrifice fly in the eighth for the Rock Cats that made the score, 12-8.

Lanigan struck out six but scattered nine hits for five runs in 5 1/3 innings. Matt Schuld (2-2) picked up the win for the `Cats with three runs on three hits in 2 2/3 innings. Venditte (3-7) was hammered for 10 hits and seven runs in three innings of relief to suffer the loss.

Allstate Player of the Game: CF Joe Benson went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored. He also had the catch of the year in the seventh inning.

PLAYOFF CHASE: The Rock Cats (72-69) now stand a half game behind Reading (72-68) in the standings and will either end the day tied for second place with a Reading loss or remain one game behind Reading if the Phillies win Reading does not play until 6:35 P.M. on Sunday nightReading's magic number (any combination of Reading wins and Rock Cats losses) is 2After tonight's game, both teams have one game remaining in the regular seasonIf the teams finish tied after Monday, the Rock Cats will host Reading in a one-game play-off game on Tuesday.

EASTERN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS: New Hampshire (75-65) clinched the Eastern Division with an 11-0 victory over Portland on Saturday night and will host either New Britain or Reading on Wednesday and Thursday for the first two games of a best of five seriesThe Fisher Cats will travel to either New Britain or Reading on Friday and Saturday (if necessary)Harrisburg (79-61) clinched the Western DivisionRichmond (75-65) and Bowie (73-66) are battling for the final playoff spot in the West.

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Eastern League Stories from September 4, 2011


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