Fisher Cats Fall Victim to First Road Four-Game Sweep Since 2012
NEW BRITAIN, CT – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats struck first again, but went on to lose 4-1 Sundayto the New Britain Rock Cats in the final game of a four-game series in front of 2,872 fans at New Britain Stadium.
The loss sealed the first four-game road sweep suffered by the Fisher Cats (5-6) since September 2012, also coming against New Britain. The Rock Cats (6-5) stifled the New Hampshire bats, allowing just four hits, and only two after the first inning.
The Fisher Cats drew first blood in the top of the first inning. Jon Berti led off with a single, and moved up to third on a single by Dwight Smith, Jr. With one out, New Britain starter Matt Flemer (W, 1-1) got K.C. Hobson to ground out to second base, plating Berti and giving New Hampshire the early 1-0 advantage.
As had been the case the previous night, though, the New Hampshire lead was short-lived. The Rock Cats knocked in three runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from Noel Cuevas and a two-run single from Will Swanner off Fisher Cats starting pitcher John Anderson (L, 0-1), turning the 1-0 Fisher Cats lead into a 3-1 deficit for the visitors.
New Britain added one more tally in the sixth against New Hampshire reliever Matt West. With two outs and Swanner on second, Pat Valaika laced a single past third baseman Ryan Schimpf to score Swanner and make it a 4-1 game.
Anderson was chased in the fourth inning; he gave up three runs on five hits and three walks while fanning three. Cory Burns turned in two innings of exceptional relief, allowing just two hits and stranding both inherited runners. West surrendered a run on a hit and a walk in his lone inning of actions, striking out three. Greg Burke pitched a scoreless inning of relief with two hits allowed and one whiff recorded. Danny Barnes threw a single inning, walking one and fanning one while allowing no runs.
The Fisher Cats will open the second series of their road swing Monday night against the Trenton Thunder. First pitch from Arm and Hammer Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m., with Fisher Cats RHP Matt Boyd getting the ball against Trenton righty Brady Lail. Radio coverage begins at 6:40 p.m. with Ben Gellman on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and at www.nhfishercats.com.
The Fisher Cats return home for a seven-game stand on Thursday, April 23. The stand begins with a Thursday Night Rock 101 DJ and Atlas Fireworks. Curious George and The Man in the Yellow Hat will visit Northeast Dental Dental Stadium during the homestand from April 24-26. To purchase tickets and to view the entire promotional schedule, visit www.nhfishercats.com.
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