Newcomer drives in 3 in 7th to break 3-3 tie
MANCHESTER, NH – In search of his first hit in a Fisher Cats uniform, Ronald Torreyes came through when the club needed it on Friday night. With the bases loaded in the seventh, he hit a three-run double into the left field corner, breaking a tie game and sending the Fisher Cats (21-20) to a 6-3 win over the Altoona Curve (23-16) to begin a four-game, holiday weekend series.
The Fisher Cats winning rally didn’t exactly start with fireworks. Shane Opitz reached on an infield single to second, and then Ian Parmley picked up his second hit of the night with a perfect bunt to third. Dwight Smith Jr. worked a two-out walk to load the bases against starting pitcher Chad Kuhl (L; 2-1).
Torreyes followed with a fly ball double to the track in left field, clearing the bases and breaking the 3-3 tie. His first hit was just the team’s fifth with the bases loaded, and only their second double with a man at every base.
To earn the win, the Fisher Cats had to come from behind twice. The Curve put two up in the first inning against starter John Anderson (ND) to take an early 2-0 lead. But New Hampshire battled back to level it on a Jack Murphy RBI single in the second and a Smith Jr. run-scoring double in the third.
Anderson worked five innings, finishing with a career-high nine strikeouts. He didn’t allow another run over his final four innings, giving up seven hits and just one walk.
The bullpen took over in the sixth, and the Curve got a run back to re-take the lead against Cory Burns. In the bottom of the inning, K.C. Hobson leveled it again with his fourth home run to right field to make it 3-3.
Scott Barnes (W; 1-1) earned the victory before turning it over to Danny Barnes. The second Barnes worked the final six outs for his second save of the season. He struck out four and stranded a pair of runners in the final inning.
Torreyes had the biggest hit of the night, but several others contributed. Murphy drove in his 20th run and reached base twice. Parmley had his third straight two-hit game while Smith Jr. was aboard with a double and a walk.
The series continues on Saturday night with more Atlas Fireworks. Fans can win prizes by playing USA Subs Baseball Bingo. It’s also a Reading Challenge game presented by Velcro USA Inc. Tickets are available at www.nhfishercats.com, by calling 603-641-2005, or by visiting the box office at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.
Lefty Matt Boyd, the reigning Eastern League Pitcher of the Week, gets the start against Altoona right-hander Matt Benedict. Radio coverage begins at 5:15 p.m. with Tom Gauthier and Bob Lipman on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and at www.nhfishercats.com.
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