Rock Cats Sweep Fisher Cats

August 21, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


NEW BRITAIN, CT - Brian Dozier and Deibinson Romero led the Rock Cats to an 8-5 victory over New Hampshire on Sunday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep of the first-place Fisher Cats before a crowd of 5,986 fans at New Britain Stadium.

The Rock Cats struck first with a run in the bottom of the first. Dozier remained hot at the plate by leading off the inning with a double to center and moved to third on Mike Hollimon's groundout. Chris Parmelee then sliced a grounder to second base that appeared would end the inning, but John Tolisano mishandled the ball allowing Parmelee to reach base safely and Dozier to cross the plate. `

Joe Benson crushed a two-run homer in the third to extend the lead, 3-0.

Rock Cats starter Andrew Albers kept the Fisher Cats off the board until the fourth. Anthony Gose led off the inning with a walk and stole second base during the next at-bat. Albers then hit Jonathan Diaz with a pitch. With Travis d'Arnaud at the plate, Gose and Diaz pulled off a stolen base and a throwing error by catcher Danny Lehmann allowed Gose to score and Diaz to move to third. D'Arnaud struck out before Diaz scored on Mike McDade's ground out to second base to close the gap, 3-2.

The Rock Cats answered back in the bottom of the inning. Romero drew a leadoff walk and Lehmann lined a one-out single to right that knocked starter Dustin McGowan from the game. Dozier greeted reliever Wes Etheridge with a sharply hit double that hit the center field wall and scored Romero. Hollimon then lined a grounder to first for the second out but Lehmann scored from third. Etheridge unleashed a wild pitch with Joe Benson at the plate that allowed Dozier to cross the plate for the third run of the inning.

Romero delivered a two-run double in the fifth to extend the Rock Cats lead, 8-2.

The Fisher Cats showcased its power potential in the sixth against Matt Schuld with back-to-back home runs by Yan Gomes and New Haven native Mark Sobolewski to cut the lead in half.

Albers lasted four innings for the Rock Cats, limiting the Fisher Cats to one earned run and one hit but walked three. Schuld (1-2) picked up the win despite allowing three hits and two runs in two innings. Brett Jacobson hurled 2 2/3 shutout innings out of the bullpen for the Rock Cats.

McGowan (0-1), who is listed on the roster as a Major League rehab assignment but didn't see action in the past two seasons due to Tommy John surgery, struggled against the Rock Cats. He allowed six hits and four earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Tyler Robertson notched his 15th save of the season for the Rock Cats. He allowed no hits and one unearned run in 1 1/3 innings.

With the victory, the Rock Cats pull within five games of the Eastern Division-leading Fisher Cats and remain just one game behind Reading for the second and final playoff spot in the division. The Reading Phillies visit New Britain for a critical three-game series beginning Monday night.

ALLSTATE PLAYER OF THE GAME -3B Deibinson Romero went 2-for-2 at the plate with two doubles and two walks. He also knocked in two runs and scored a run.



Eastern League Stories from August 21, 2011


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