Rock Cats walk off with victory

Published on August 5, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - Dustin Martin delivered a broken-bat single that fell just inside the right field foul line and drove in Toby Gardenhire for the winning run as the Rock Cats walked off with a 7-6 win over New Hampshire.

Matt Moses started the bottom of the ninth off by reaching on a walk, but was forced out at second on Gardenhire's bunt. Drew Butera followed with double to center field to put both runners in scoring position. Daryl Harang intentionally walked Brian Dinkelman to load the bases and bring Martin to the plate with one out. Martin hit a bloop single that fell just inside the foul line as his bat shattered on the field to score Gardenhire for the walk-off win.

The Rock Cats broke out for three runs in the first inning off Fisher Cats starter Marty McLeary. Dustin Martin started things off with a double to center field and moved to third on a passed ball. Brock Peterson then drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Martin scored on a sacrifice fly by David Winfree for a 1-0 lead. Danny Valencia and Felix Molina each added an RBI double.

Chris Gutierrez knocked in Jonathan Diaz in the third inning to put the Fisher Cats on the board, 3-1.

Meanwhile, McLeary retired six of the next seven batters he faced, including striking out the side in the third. In the fourth, though, the Rock Cats jumped on McLeary again. McLeary walked thre first three batters he faced - although Molina was thrown out at second on an attempted steal - before Brian Dinkelman delivered an RBI double. Martin added a two-run single that knocked McLeary out of the game and put the Rock Cats ahead, 6-1.

The Fisher Cats battled back against Rock Cats starter Jeff Manship, including a solo home run by J.P. Arencibia in the sixth inning. Ryan Patterson's solo home run in the seventh inning off reliever Zach Ward brought the Fisher Cats to within one run. Jacob Butler's RBI triple in the eighth tied the game, 6-6.

McLeary finished with six hits and six runs in 3 2/3 innings. Harang (3-5) suffered the loss. For the Rock Cats, Manship allowed four runs on 10 hits in six innings. Robert Delaney (2-1) ended up picking up the win despite allowing the tying run in the eighth. He struck out four in two innings.

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Eastern League Stories from August 5, 2008


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