Rockcats Overcome Four Run Deficit; Defeat Reading 6-5

Published on July 12, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats came back to defeat the Reading Fightin' Phils by the score of 6-5 on Saturday Evening at New Britain Stadium. The home club chipped away at an early lead established by the Phils' - picking up runs in the third and fouth before erupting for three in the sixth. CF Aaron Hicks paced the Cats' with a three hit performance - he scored once and drove in the run that gave New Britain their first lead of the night.

Reading went up early - hanging three runs on LHP Taylor Rogers in the bottom of the second inning. Ex-Rock Cat 3B Matt Tolbert drove a pitch into the left field corner where it rattled around the Fightin' Phils bullpen, allowing both SS KC Serna and DH Peter Lavin to score. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Tolbert then scored himself on a base hit from LF Albert Cartwright.

The visitors made it a 4-0 ballgame when 2B Carlos Alonso, who walked to start the top of the third, scored on an RBI single out to center hit by CF Aaron Altherr.

New Britain got their offense going in the bottom half of that inning, starting with a solo home run sent high over the left field wall by RF Mike Kvasnicka. Fans barely missed seeing back-to-back home runs when CF Aaron Hicks sent LHP Hoby Milner's offering deep to left, this time just scraping off the top of the wall. Hicks was brought home one batter later on a double from 2B Eddie Rosario, pulling the Rock Cats within two.

A sacrifice fly from C Kyle Knudson in the bottom of the fourth pulled the Rock Cats within one in a 4-3 game. The catcher plated 3B Stephen Wickens, who doubled out to left earlier in the inning.

The Cats' completed the comeback and leapfrogged the Phils for the lead in the bottom of the sixth, getting the tying run on a high chop to the third base side by Knudson and then pulled ahead on an RBI single between first and second courtesy of CF Aaron Hicks. Reading reliever RHP Kyle Simon was then pulled in favor of RHP Nefi Ogando, who walked 2B Eddie Rosario to load the bases and then issued a free pass to 1B Reynaldo Rodriguez to make it a 6-4 score in the Rock Cats favor.

New Britain reliever RHP Cole Johnson came on in relief of Rogers for the top of the eighth and found himself in a little trouble - giving up back-to-back singles and then hitting a batter to load the bases with no outs. Johnson was able to induce a 5-4-3 double play, trading a run that made it a 6-5 game. The right hander would record two outs in the ninth before giving way to LHP Ryan O'Rourke who struck out Kelly Dugan to pick up his third save of the season.

Rogers improves to 8-6 with the victory, after scattering eight hits over seven innings. He allowed four runs, all earned, while walking just one and striking out three.

Reading's Milner went five innings, allowing three runs, all earned, on seven hits while striking out five and walking just one. Simon, who was charged with runs four through six, suffers the loss, dropping his record to 2-2.

New Britain sends LHP Jason Wheeler to the hill on Sunday afternoon, while Reading will counter with RHP Ryan O'Sullivan. First pitch is slated for 1:35 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from July 12, 2014


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