READING, PA – Was the New Hampshire Fisher Cats win on Saturday due to a quality hitting performance or outstanding pitching? Whatever the key factor was, the bottom line is that they won.
The Fisher Cats bounced back from their series opening loss to the Reading Fightin’ Phils, grabbing a 6-2 win.
Cavan Biggio put the ‘Cats on the board in the first with a three-run shot, followed by a solo homer by Connor Panas an inning later and a two-run dinger by Harold Ramirez in the sixth.
All three blasts sailed over the rightfield fence, with the Phils combining for three hits in total off righty Sean Reid-Foley, who allowed just one run in his six innings of work, an RBI single by Damek Tomscha.
Reid-Foley (3-0) has now allowed just two earned runs in 18 1/3 innings this season. For some comparison, Reid-Foley didn’t reach that many innings last year until his seventh appearance on May 10 against Hartford, and by that point he had allowed 14 earned runs.
Reading’s other run came in the ninth thanks to Andrew Case hitting Zach Green by a pitch. Two separate errors by Bichette on later Reading at-bats allowed Green to cross the plate, but a Bichette would initiate a double play that concluded the ninth and sealed New Hampshire’s victory.
Justin Shafer and Craig Breslow also took an inning each for the ‘Cats on the mound, going just one batter above the minimum combined over the seventh and eighth innings.
Elneiry Garcia (0-1) was issued the loss, giving up all three home runs during his 5 2/3 innings performance, with the Phils’ bullpen shutting down the Fisher Cats for most of the contest after Garcia’s departure.