Cats Break Away from Fightin Phils with Big Eighth Inning
MANCHESTER, NH — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (6-17, 36-55) took down the Reading Fightin Phils (10-14, 41-52) at Delta Dental Stadium Friday, 7-3. The Cats scored in bunches: three runs in the third and four in the eighth. For the second straight night, the Fisher Cats offense came through
MANCHESTER, NH — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (6-17, 36-55) took down the Reading Fightin Phils (10-14, 41-52) at Delta Dental Stadium Friday, 7-3. The Cats scored in bunches: three runs in the third and four in the eighth.
For the second straight night, the Fisher Cats offense came through in high-pressure moments. Michael Turconi drilled a two-run single in the third to put New Hampshire in front. In the eighth, Garrett Spain lined a bases-loaded, two-out single off the pitcher before Glenn Santiago crushed a 3-RBI double. The Cats finished the game 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
Turconi, Spain and Ryan McCarty combined for six of New Hampshire’s eight hits. McCarty smacked doubles in his first two at bats. He now has 10 in 35 Double-A games.
New Hampshire southpaw Trenton Wallace (W, 4-3) went five innings and racked up eight strikeouts. He allowed three hits, two of which were solo home runs in the second inning. Wallace retired the last six batters he faced. His 2.68 ERA is still the best in the Eastern League.
After extra-base hits in the first and second, the Cats’ offense came alive in the third against Reading starter Samuel Aldegheri (L, 0-2). Devonte Brown started the rally with a one-out walk, advanced to second on a Josh Kasevich single, then came around to score on McCarty’s second double of the night. Turconi delivered a two-out single up the middle to score Kasevich and McCarty, and put New Hampshire ahead, 3-2.
Adrian Hernandez, Braydon Fisher – on his 24th birthday – and Ryan Boyer tossed scoreless innings in the sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.
The Fisher Cats broke the game open after loading the bases in the bottom of the eighth. McCarty and Rainer Nuñez worked back-to-back walks, then Turconi slapped an opposite-field single which moved the runners 90 feet. Spain drilled a liner off the mitt of Reading pitcher Daniel Harper to score McCarty, then Santiago demolished a Harper cutter into right-center. Nuñez, Turconi and Spain all touched home, and the Cats took a 7-2 lead.
Reading scored a harmless run in the ninth before Jimmy Burnette sealed the deal.
On Saturday, July 27, New Hampshire takes the field as the Manchester Buffalo Chicken Tenders at 6:35 PM EDT with Atlas Fireworks postgame. RHP Lazaro Estrada (0-2, 3.21 ERA) will bring the heat from the hill for New Hampshire, while RHP Robinson Pina (10-4, 4.46 ERA) starts for Reading.
Fans can purchase multi-game memberships and single-game tickets at NHFishercats.com, via email at [email protected], by phone at (603) 641-2005, and in-person at the Fisher Cats box office on 1 Line Drive in Manchester.
About the New Hampshire Fisher Cats
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays and play their games at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. Over 155 former Fisher Cats have reached the Major League level. The Fisher Cats have raised millions of dollars for various charities through the Fisher Cats Foundation and continuously strive to improve the quality of life for Granite State residents. The organization has been recognized as New Hampshire Business Review’s “Best Sporting Event to Take Clients to”, Parenting New Hampshire Magazine’s “New Hampshire’s Favorite Sporting Event for Families”, and New Hampshire Magazine’s “Best New Hampshire Sports Team”. For more information on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, please visit NHFisherCats.com, call (603) 641-2005, or contact Chris Jared via email at [email protected].