MANCHESTER, NH – After dropping the first game of their April 12 doubleheader against the New Britain Rock Cats, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats rode a Matt Newman home run and a Kevin Nolan two-run single to a 4-0 victory in the second game at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.
The victory split the doubleheader and gave the Fisher Cats the weekend series victory to open up the 2015 season.
Newman’s home run started the scoring in the bottom of the second. He ripped a hard line drive just over the wall in right field for his first of the season, which pushed his RBI total to four.
An inning later, Nolan struck. The Fisher Cats loaded the bases against starter Gus Schlosser. With one out, Nolan laced a single to left field to plate two for his first runs batted in of the season.
The Fisher Cats added one more run in the sixth when K.C. Hobson doubled off the base of the right field wall to push his early season hit streak to four games. He took third on a ground out, and then scored on a Pierce Rankin single to center field.
The Rock Cats managed just five hits in the loss against three New Hampshire pitchers. Dustin Antolin started for the first time in his pro career. He tossed 2.2 shutout innings before turning the ball over to Greg Burke (W; 1-0), who pitched through the fifth inning. Danny Barnes (S; 1) finished it off with two perfect innings and four strikeouts for his first Double-A save.
In the series, Fisher Cats pitchers finished with 41 strikeouts.
The Rock Cats took the opener of the doubleheader for their first win of the series, 3-0. Casey Lawrence (L; 0-1) took the loss, giving up a solo home run in the fourth inning before a pair of errors helped the Rock Cats put the game away with two additional runs in the seventh.
Lawrence allowed all three runs, but only two were earned. He finished 6.1 innings, surrendering eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts in his return to New Hampshire.
The Fisher Cats had just three hits in the first game, with K.C. Hobson, Nolan, and Newman all picking up singles in a quiet affair.
The Fisher Cats welcome in the Reading Fightin Phils to town for the start of a three-game series on Monday night at 6:35 p.m. Fans can win prizes by playing USA Subs Baseball Bingo. Tickets are available by visiting www.nhfishercats.com, stopping by the Fisher Cats ticket office, or by calling (603) 641-2005.
Righty Mike Lee will make his 2015 debut against Reading LHP Tom Windle. Coverage with Tom Gauthier begins at 6:15 p.m. on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and at www.nhfishercats.com. Check the full season schedule here.
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