AKRON, OH – Nate Pearson was dominant once again, helping the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to victory even if he didn’t get enough run support to get a victory himself.
New Hampshire took the first game of their series against the Akron Rubber Ducks on Tuesday night, 2-1 thanks in large part to Pearson’s start.
Now at 12 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, Pearson allowed just two hits and three walks over six innings on Tuesday, striking out five Akron batters.
Pearson was in line for the win thanks to Kevin Smith’s homer in the fifth. However, an inning after Pearson’s departure, reliever Vinny Nittoli allowed Alex Call to come home off Alexis Pantoja’s single, tying things up.
Nitolli stranded Pantoja and a squeeze bunt by Santiago Espinal brought Logan Warmoth in for the Fisher Cats’ go-ahead run in the eighth.
Jake Fishman and Corey Copping held Akron the rest of the way, helping Nittoli improve his record to 2-2 on the year.
At the plate, Smith also had another hit and a walk, with his home run marking the first for New Hampshire in 143 at-bats.
Justin Dillon (3-2, 4.06 ERA) takes the mound for New Hampshire on Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. against Akron lefty Sam Hentgen (1-10, 5.38 ERA).
