Sports stats



Rock Cats Top Reading, 5-4

August 23, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - Brandon Roberts delivered an RBI single in the seventh inning for the go-ahead run as the Rock Cats came back and held on for a 5-4 victory over Reading on Sunday afternoon. The ‘Cats (65-61) have won five in a row and maintain to hold sole possession of second place in the Northern Division.

Cole DeVries managed to shut the R-Phils down in the first inning before allowing a leadoff double to Brian Stavisky in the second. Kevin Mahar followed with a one-out single to put runners on the corners. Steve Susdorf then grounded out to second baseman Alejandro Machado, allowing Stavisky to cross the plate for the 1-0 advantage.

In the third, DeVries retired the first two batters before Tim Kennelly lined a base hit into right field. Domonic Brown followed with a single to left field that put Kennelly on third. Brown advanced to second on the throw from left fielder Juan Portes. Stavisky came to the plate and delivered a two-run single to right.

The Rock Cats got on the board in the bottom of the third when Portes doubled and came around to score on a Roberts' single to close the gap, 3-1. Tosoni led off the next inning with a home run to right field. Erik Lis and Luke Hughes then hit back-to-back doubles with one out, with Lis scoring on the second hit to tie the game.

The Rock Cats played catch up again in the seventh when Hughes led off with a triple and scored on a double by Portes to tie the game again. The hot-hitting Roberts later laced a base hit into right field to knock in Portes for the lead.

Alex Burnett took the mound for the Rock Cats in the top of the ninth to shut the door and retired the first two batters he faced. Susdorf then doubled through the hole at shortstop to keep the Phillies alive. Mike Spidale came in to pinch run and stole third to put the tying run 90 feet away. Burnett beared down and forced Kevin Nelson into a 3-2 count before Nelson grounded out to Singelton at short to end the game. Burnett notched the save, his third-straight in as many games and seventh overall.

DeVries finished with four runs on nine hits through six innings of work. Loek Van Mil and Spencer Steedley each fired a scoreless inning in relief. Van Mil (1-0) picked up his first victory in the Eastern League.

Vance Worley turned in a solid start for Reading - with three runs on six hits in six innings - but came away with the no-decision. Brian Rosenberg (0-1) suffered the loss.

• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...

Eastern League Stories from August 23, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central