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Vargas Ties with Homer in the 10th, Thomas Walks off in the 12th

May 4, 2014 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats came back to win in dramatic fashion on Saturday evening at New Britain Stadium - a 6-5 walk-off win in the bottom of the 12th inning courtesy of a two-run home run from 2B Tony Thomas.

Thomas, who came on as a defensive replacement in the top of the ninth after pinch-running for 2B Nate Hanson in the bottom of the eighth, delivered the win for the Cats with a walk-off home run off of New Hampshire reliever LHP Richard Bleier.

Both teams swapped leads early on and then the game would remain tied 3-3 from the top of the sixth until the top of the tenth when New Hampshire took a 4-3 lead on a sacrifice fly from 2B Jon Berti. Down to their last out, 1B Kennys Vargas launched a solo home run high over the wall in left-center to push the game along to the twelfth inning. The Fisher Cats took the lead in the top of the twelfth when SS Kevin Nolan came home from second on a throwing error by SS Corey Wimberly, a defensive change made before the top of the inning. Down 5-4, the second extra inning home run of the game sent the home crowd home happy.

New Hampshire went up early on a solo home run from C A.J. Jimenez to take a 1-0 lead after the first inning.

New Britain answered back in the bottom half of the frame following a balk committed by Fisher Cats starter RHP Aaron Sanchez. The miscue allowed then CF Wimberly to cross the plate after leading off the home half with an infield-style single.

The Fisher Cats would go on top once again in the third on an RBI single by 3B Andy Burns. The base hit drove in DH Brian Van Kirk, who led off the inning with a single that went through the hole at shortstop.

OF Mike Kvasnicka gave the Rock Cats a 3-2 lead with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the fourth, a two-run shot over the wall in right field, his second of the season. The home run brought also brought in DH Reynaldo Rodriguez, who walked in the previous at-bat.

The Cats could not hold the lead however as New Hampshire would knot the game at three in the top of the sixth. LF Michael Crouse lined a two-out single to centerfield, bringing around Jimenez to tie the contest 3-3. Crouse was ultimately tagged out on the play, going 8-6-4.

New Britain was threatening with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Following back-to-back strikeouts by Fisher Cats reliever RHP Dustin Antolin, Hanson was hit by a pitch, Vargas drew a walk, as did Rodriguez. With the bases loaded, it was Kvasnicka who had an opportunity to put the Cats ahead once more but was called out on strikes to end the rally.

The visitors would go up 4-3 in the top of the 10th on a sacrifice fly to deep center by 2B Jon Berti, allowing SS Kevin Nolan to trot home. Nolan led off the inning with a single that snuck through third and short.

After New Hampshire reliever LHP John Anderson struck out CF Kenny Wilson and 2B Tony Thomas back-to-back in the bottom of the eleventh, he tried to sneak a fastball past Vargas who sent it high over the wall in left-center for his sixth home run of 2014.

Berti played the spoiler once again in the top of the twelfth, slapping a grounder to Wimberly, who came in from left field after SS A.J. Pettersen was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the eleventh. Wimberly's throw slipped by Vargas at first, allowing Nolan to once again score the go-ahead run.

New Hampshire's Bleier came on in the top of the twelfth to close out the game, however Wimberly had other plans as he led off with a single out to right field. After a sacrifice bunt from Wilson pushed Wimberly to second and a stolen base put him on third, it was Thomas who prevailed as the hero for the night.

Rock Cats starter LHP Pat Dean kept the game close over seven innings - allowing three runs on nine hits while walking two and striking out five. He would leave with the game tied 3-3 and would not figure into the decision. New Britain relievers combined for five innings, allowing two runs, none earned, on three hits while striking out five and walking one. LHP Jim Fuller ups his record to 2-1.

New Hampshire starter Sanchez went 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits while walking four and striking out two. Bleier was the hard-luck loser, getting tagged with the blown save and the loss (1-3).

The Rock Cats finish up the three game series with New Hampshire on Sunday afternoon. The 1:35 p.m. contest will see New Britain starter RHP Virgil Vasquez squaring off against Fisher Cats RHP Deck McGuire.



Eastern League Stories from May 4, 2014


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