EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Walk-Off Grand Slam Dooms Fisher Cats in Road Swing Finale

Published on June 17, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


ERIE, PA -- The New Hampshire Fisher Cats had two late leads but blew them both, surrendering a walk-off grand slam to lose 6-3 in 13 innings Wednesday to the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park.

New Hampshire (29-36) fell to a season-worst seven games below .500 with the loss, dropping six of nine games on their longest road trip of the season. The SeaWolves (23-40) took the series two games to one, stunning multiple New Hampshire relievers en route to the win.

Erie opened the scoring in the bottom of the third against New Hampshire starter Joel Piñeiro. Drew Longley sliced a one-out ground ball past Jon Berti at third base, with the ball rolling all the way to the left-field corner for a triple. Harold Castro lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Longley and putting Erie ahead 1-0.

The Fisher Cats evened things up in the top of the sixth. Shane Opitz and Devon Travis reached on consecutive singles with one outs. After Dalton Pompey flew out to right field, Jon Berti ripped a single up past first baseman James Robbins to plate Opitz, tying the game at 1-1.

Berti came through again later, smacking a solo homer in the top of the ninth against reliever Joe Mantiply. The dinger was Berti's first of the season, and it put New Hampshire ahead 2-1. The lead was short-lived, however, as reliever Blake McFarland allowed pinch-runner Josh Prince to score on a two-out RBI single by Wade Gaynor in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.

New Hampshire moved back into the lead in the top of the 13th inning, as Opitz found his way aboard on a one-out single off reliever Drew VerHagen (W, 1-0). With two outs, Pompey drilled a double into the left-center field gap to plate Opitz, moving New Hampshire into the lead.

In the bottom of the 13th, though, things fell apart. Luis Perez (L, 1-1) allowed a leadoff single to Connor Harrell and walked Tony Thomas before falling behind 2-0 to Gaynor. Bobby Meacham pulled Perez for Greg Burke, who completed the walk to load the bases. Longley took a fastball from Burke over the left-field fence for the grand slam to win the game.

Pineiro took a no-decision, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks over 7.2 frames while fanning one. Scott Barnes struck out the only batter he faced in the eighth inning. McFarland blew the save, surrendering a run on three hits and whiffing three in 1.2 innings of work. Chad Girodo got a ground-out from the only batter he faced. Dustin Antolin allowed three hits but no runs in 1.2 innings, striking out two. Perez gave up three runs on two walks and one hit to take the loss, recording one out and hitting one batter. Burke was charged with his own blown save, allowing one run on one hit.

The Fisher Cats will return home on Friday to face Binghamton at 7:05 p.m. on an Atlas Fireworks night, with a Family Sleepover and Scout Night! New Hampshire lefty John Anderson gets the ball against Binghamton right-hander Robert Gsellman at 7:05 p.m. at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Radio coverage will begin at 6:45 p.m. with Tom Gauthier on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and online at www.nhfishercats.com. Tickets are available at www.nhfishercats.com or by calling the ticket office at (603)-641-2005.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from June 17, 2015


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