Coming into Wednesday, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were 5-55 in 2016 when losing after seven innings of a contest. After Wednesday, they’re 6-55.
New Hampshire’s late runs helped even the series against the Bowie BaySox, earning a 4-3 victory in Wednesday’s matinee game against the Baltimore Orioles’ Double-A affiliate.
Cedric Mullins got Bowie on the board first thanks to a three-run homer in the fifth, and it looked like that would be enough after the first six innings of work from Bowie starting pitcher Jordan Kipper.
The Fisher Cats sent just one batter over the maximum over those first six innings, and Kipper quickly retired Richard Urena to start the seventh. However, that would be the last out Kipper recorded, allowing the next three batters to reach base.
Lourdes Gurriel’s double brought two runs across the plate on Kipper’s final at-bat of the contest, bringing the Fisher Cats back within a run.
An inning later, a single from Urena brought Derrick Loveless home to tie the contest. Tim Lopes’ double would bring home Urena quickly after that, giving New Hampshire a lead they would not relinquish.
Scott McGough earned the loss, going 1 2/3 innings, giving up two of New Hampshire’s four runs off three hits, striking out two.
The win went to Justin Shafer, who came in to start the seventh. Shafer (4-2) allowed just one hit in the seventh and eighth in getting his first win since July 23.
Dusty Issacs earned his third save of the year closing out the ninth.
Harold Ramirez led the way at the plate for New Hampshire with a pair of hits on the day. D.J. Stewart also collected a pair of hits for Bowie, which was eclipsed by Stephen Wilkerson’s 3-for-4 day.
The three-game series with the Baysox wraps up on Thursday night. New Hampshire sends Ryan Borucki (0-1, 0.64 ERA) to the mound. The newcomer has allowed just one run in 14 innings over his first two Double-A starts. Bowie’s announced starter is David Hess (8-7, 4.41 ERA).
