MANCHESTER, NH – Jonathan Davis had a night to remember.
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats centerfielder became the first batter in franchise history to hit for the cycle, leading his squad to a the 10-3 victory against the Sea Dogs on Tuesday.
Davis began his night with a double in the first, eventually scoring off a Bo Bichette sacrifice fly.
He struck again in the second as he and Juan Kelly both went deep to drive the Fisher Cats’ lead up to 6-0.
Portland was able to plate their first run of the evening in the third off of a Chad De La Guerra fielder’s choice. It proved to only be a temporary respite in the face of New Hampshire’s offensive onslaught.
The Sea Dogs’ momentum was halted an inning later by a Jon Berti solo home run for the Fisher Cats. Connor Panas’s two-run double in the fifth inning provided added insurance to New Hampshire’s lead.
Davis added a single following Berti’s fifth-inning home run and his lead-off triple in the sixth sealed the deal on his cycle.
Portland continued to try to chip away at the New Hampshire lead in the sixth, but Jantzen Witte’s run proved futile when New Hampshire added another run half an inning later.
Josh DeGraaf earned the win for New Hampshire, lasting five innings, allowing five hits, while striking out five Portland batters.
In contrast, it was a struggle for Portland starting pitcher, Kyle Hart. The Sea Dog southpaw left after 4 1/3 innings, allowing nine runs, six of which were earned, off eight hits and three walks.
The loss drops Hart to 5-5 on the season while DeGraaf climbs to 2-4.
Along with Davis’ historic 4-5 night, Panas went 2-4 for New Hampshire.
Although Portland only accumulated three runs, they had nine hits on the night with Luke Tendler, Jhon Nunez and Danny Mars collecting two hits each.
The Fisher Cats will continue their series with the Sea Dogs tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Portland will send Matthew Kent (5-4, 2.69 ERA) to the mound against a Fisher Cats pitcher yet to be named.
