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Rock Cats Win Wild One; Defeat Altoona 6-4

May 26, 2015 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats defeated the visiting Altoona Curve by the score of 6-4 on Tuesday evening at New Britain Stadium.

CF Noel Cuevas put together a three hit performance, none more important than his final hit of the night, a three-run double in the seventh that gave the Rock Cats all the run support they needed to pull out the victory.

C Tom Murphy's two-out single off of Altoona starter LHP Zack Dodson in the home half of the first scored the speedy RF David Dahl from second, giving New Britain the early 1-0 lead.

A well-executed 7-6-2 relay held the Cats' to just the one run on the inning. Dahl reached base by ripping a double down the leftfield line and it appeared as if CF Noel Cuevas would open up the scoring for the evening but a tremendous throw from SS Gift Ngoepe pegged the outfielder out at home.

Following a bottom of the second where New Britain was threatening with runners on first and third but could not score, Altoona CF Keon Broxton cracked a solo home run over the wall in center off of New Britain starter LHP Ryan Carpenter to knot the game at one run a side.

After Dodson issued a four-pitch walk to Carpenter to lead-off the bottom of the fifth, SS Pat Valaika followed up with a line drive home run over the wall in left-center. The infielder's four-bagger, his second of the season, gave the Rock Cats a 3-1 advantage.

Altoona picked up three runs in the top of the seventh inning to reclaim the lead. 2B Max Moroff cracked an RBI single to score Edward Salcedo, who was called on to pinch hit for Dodson. 1B Josh Bell and LF Willy Garcia follow Moroff with an RBI double and single, respectively, and put the Curve up 4-3. All three runs were charged to LHP Tyler Ybarra, who came on in relief of Carpenter.

The Rock Cats responded quickly in the bottom half of the seventh on a bases-loaded double courtesy of Cuevas. The outfielder drove RHP Jhondaniel Medina's offering off the wall in center, scoring all three runners and giving New Britain a 6-4 lead.

New Britain's southpaw put up six strong innings, scattering nine hits, allowing just the one run while walking none and striking out three. LHP Kraig Sitton earns the win in relief, improving his record to 1-1. RHP Austin House locked down his league-leading 16 save of the season with a very economical 1-2-3 inning with one strikeout.

Curve starter Dodson worked six innings himself, allowing three runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out two. The lefty was on the hook for the loss until Bell's RBI double in the seventh tied the contest 3-3. Medina was the tough luck loser, suffering both the blown save and the loss (1-1).

Altoona's hitting coach Kevin Riggs took over managing duties after both manager Tom Prince and Ngoepe were ejected in the top of the fifth for arguing a strike three call against the shortstop.

Wednesday evening's contest features a matchup of former teammates when Rock Cats RHP Shane Carle squares off against Altoona starter RHP Chad Kuhl. Both pitchers spent parts of the past two seasons together in Jamestown and Bradenton before Carle was traded to the Rockies organization this past offseason. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.



Eastern League Stories from May 26, 2015


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