Second blast of series breaks tie game in seventh
MANCHESTER, NH – Melky Mesa smashed a seventh-inning home run into a fierce wind on Tuesday night, breaking a tie game to send the Fisher Cats to a 7-5 win over the Trenton Thunder. The blast secured the first two games of the series, giving New Hampshire four straight home series wins heading into the finale of their second homestand on Wednesday.
Mesa’s home run capped a come-from-behind win for the Fisher Cats (11-9), who saw the Thunder (10-9) score three first-inning runs on a pair of homers against starting pitcher Mike Lee (ND). Greg Bird started the scoring in the opening stanza with a two-run homer to right, followed with two outs by a solo shot from Eric Jagielo.
The Fisher Cats answered in the third with a lead-off walk paired with a two-run home run by Matt Newman. With one out, Dwight Smith Jr. and Mesa each singled, and then both scored on a double by Jake Fox to put New Hampshire on top, 4-3. Smith Jr.’s base hit pushed his hit streak to 15 games.
The Fisher Cats added a run in the fifth when they loaded the bases with one out against starter Caleb Smith (ND). With K.C. Hobson batting, Smith uncorked a wild pitch to score Jon Berti for the 5-3 edge.
Trenton answered with a pair of runs in the sixth against Lee, who left the game after the frame with a no-decision. He allowed five runs on nine hits, striking out two with one walk.
An inning later, Mesa delivered. He launched a two-out blast into the wind just to the left of the batter’s eye in center field. His second home of the series – and the season – broke the tie and capped a three-hit night for the outfielder. He has tallied 18 hits in his first 11 games of the season, hitting safely in each one.
The Fisher Cats added an insurance run in the eighth when Kevin Nolan tripled and then scored on a wild pitch. Matt West closed down the final two innings for his first save of the season. Greg Burke pitched a scoreless seventh for his second win of the campaign.
The series and homestand come to an end on Wednesday evening at 5:35 p.m. with another Chamber Mixer presented by FairPoint Communications. To purchase tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com.
Wednesday’s pitching match-up features John Anderson (1-1, 4.73) looking for his second win of the homestand against the Yankees’ top overall prospect, Luis Severino (1-1, 2.40). Radio coverage begins at 5:15 p.m. with Tom Gauthier and Bob Lipman on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and atwww.nhfishercats.com
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