Cats Walked Off Again

ALTOONA, PA — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (18-35, 48-73) dropped their fourth straight game to the Altoona Curve (23-31, 52-71) at Peoples Natural Gas Field Friday night, falling 7-5 in 10 innings. For the second straight night, Altoona won on a walk-off hit; Curve right fielder Matt Fraizer smashed a three-run homer to end the contest.

After trailing 4-0, New Hampshire fought back with four runs to tie the game. The Fisher Cats took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 10th after Charles McAdoo scored on Devonte Brown’s RBI single off Grant Ford (W, 4-2), but Fraizer’s home run off Anders Tolhurst (L, 2-1) brought home two baserunners as well.

New Hampshire’s Devereaux Harrison tossed his second straight quality start with six innings of one-run baseball. The right-hander struck out six. Hunter Gregory allowed three runs in the bottom of the seventh, two of which were earned. Andrew Bechtold tossed a scoreless eighth and Ryan Jennings handled the ninth with a zero.

Altoona starter Po-Yu Chen delivered five scoreless innings, but New Hampshire eventually got to the Curve bullpen.

Altoona knocked in the game’s first run on a solo home run from Sammy Siani in the bottom of the second inning, the only run allowed by New Hampshire’s Harrison. Fajardo stroked a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh. After stealing second base, Fajardo came around on a fielding and throwing error from Fisher Cats shortstop Josh Rivera to push the Curve advantage to 4-0.

The Fisher Cats mounted a comeback in the top of the eighth. With one out, shortstop Josh Rivera singled, then right fielder RJ Schreck drove Rivera in with a double to the right field corner. Altoona made a pitching change, but it didn’t faze third baseman Ryan McCarty, who drove a deep fly ball to left field; Curve left fielder Yoyner Fajardo reached up to make the catch, but the ball bounced off his mitt and over the fence for a two-run blast. McCarty’s longball was his ninth Double-A homer of the season and extended his hit streak to 12 games.

Trailing by one, first baseman Rainer Nuñez singled, advanced to second on a walk. Garrett Spain entered the game to pinch-run for Nuñez and came around to score on an Altoona infield error. After the Cats rally, the game was tied, 4-4.

In extras, Brown stroked the first pitch of the tenth into center field to plate McAdoo for his 42nd RBI of the year. The next three batters went down in order.

New Hampshire and Altoona face off at 6:00 PM EDT from Peoples Natural Gas Field on Saturday. New Hampshire RHP Abdiel Mendoza (8-9, 3.47 ERA) starts against Altoona LHP Anthony Solometo (0-6, 6.17 ERA).

Every Fisher Cats home game is streamed live on MiLB.tv and through the Bally Live App; fans can listen to every Fisher Cats game on the Fisher Cats Radio Network.

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].