Rock Cats Take Early Lead; Four Homers from Reading Sinks N.B. 6-4

Published on July 13, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats fell short to Reading by the score of 6-4 on Sunday afternoon at New Britain Stadium.

The Cats' picked up two runs in the bottom of the second to get an early advantage. With runners on second and third, 3B Stephen Wickens grounded to his counterpart and former Rock Cat 3B Matt Tolbert for a productive out as DH Brad Boyer scored on the play. C Jairo Rodriguez followed up with an RBI single out to right that brought LF Lance Ray around to make it a 2-0 game.

Reading answered back with two of their own in the top of the fourth - a home run to deep right field coming off the bat of last minute replacement C Logan Moore. Moore stood in for Raywilly Gomez, who was originally scheduled to catch for Fightin' Phils starter RHP Ryan O'Sullivan.

The Phillies Double-A affiliate overtook the Rock Cats for the lead after their at-bats in the fifth. New Britain starter LHP Jason Wheeler gave up two home runs in the frame - a lead-off homer to DH Jake Fox and a two-run shot from 1B Brock Stassi that hooked around the foul pole in right.

CF Aaron Altherr led off the seventh inning with a solo home run - fourth long ball of the day for the visitors. Altherr, who has had two separate stints up in Philadelphia so far this season, jumped on RHP Daniel Turpen's first pitch and drove it over the wall in right center to give Reading a 6-2 lead.

New Britain made it a three run game in the bottom half of the inning when Ray lifted a sacrifice fly out to right field to bring home SS Tony Thomas, who was walked by reliever RHP Perci Garner to lead off.

1B Reynaldo Rodriguez just missed hitting his 15th home run of the season off of Phils RHP Mike Nesseth in the eighth, instead the ball glanced off the left field wall about =BE the way up and gave 2B Eddie Rosario enough time to score all the way from second - making it a 6-4 game.

Wheeler battled through five innings - giving up five runs, all earned, on ten hits. The big left hander also walked one and struck out three in the losing effort, seeing his record drop to 2-3.

O'Sullivan improves to 3-5 with the victory - pitching six strong innings, allowing two runs, both earned, on four hits while walking none and striking out three. RHP Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez earned his second save of the series and the season.

The Rock Cats will finish their four-game series with Reading on Monday afternoon, with a scheduled first pitch time of 12:05 p.m. New Britain will throw RHP Tyler Duffey and he goes up against Reading starter and former big leaguer LHP Adam Loewen.

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Eastern League Stories from July 13, 2014


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