Skid Hits Three Games as New Hampshire Can’t Muster Comeback
NEW BRITAIN, CT – The bullpen kept the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in it late, but the offense was unable to tie the score, allowing the Fisher Cats to fall 4-3 to the New Britain Rock Cats April 17 in front of 1,478 fans at New Britain Stadium.
The loss was the third straight for the Fisher Cats (5-4), following a stellar 5-1 start to the season. New Britain (4-5) took the lead in the bottom of the first and never trailed, plating three more in the third for all the scoring they would need.
The Rock Cats got to Fisher Cats starter Casey Lawrence (L, 0-2) in the first inning, as he loaded the bases with just one out. Mike Tauchman looped an RBI single to right, and Noel Cuevas followed with a two-run single of his own to put the home team ahead by three.
The Fisher Cats got on the board in the top of the third, as Shane Opitz cracked a lead-off double to right field off New Britain hurler Shane Carle (W, 2-0). With two outs and Opitz on third, Jake Fox powered a double into the left-center field gap, plating Opitz and cutting the lead to 3-1. The Rock Cats answered in the bottom of the frame, though, as a sacrifice fly from Tauchman plated Trevor Story to extend New Britain’s advantage to 4-1.
New Hampshire made it interesting in the top of the seventh. Kevin Nolan led off with a big double to center field, and scored on a single by Matt Newman. With two outs and runners on first and second, Fox lofted a pop fly that third baseman Jayson Langfels bungled, allowing Newman to score and trim the margin to just a single run. 4-3 was as close as New Hampshire would get, though, as they failed to score in the eighth, and Austin House set the Fisher Cats down in order in the ninth for his second save.
The Fisher Cats will try to snap the skid Saturday afternoon from New Britain Stadium. First pitch in New Britain, Conn., is at 1:35 p.m. with Fisher Cats RHP Mike Lee getting the ball against New Britain southpaw Yohan Flande. Radio coverage begins at 1:15 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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