Cats avoid no-hit disaster in rain-shortened loss

Reading, Pennsylvania – The Fisher Cats bats struggled on Saturday night but were able to break up a no-hit bid that lasted into the top of the eighth inning. New Hampshire (7-10, 38-48) lost, 2-0, to the Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies, 10-7, 39-47) in their third shutout loss this week. The game started an hour late and was called in the top of the eighth inning due to heavy rain.

The last time New Hampshire was no-hit in a nine-inning game was April 26, 2016 at Trenton. Saturday nearly marked just the fourth time in team history the Fisher Cats were no-hit.

Bobby Rossman, Adam Leverett (W, 2-7) and McKinley Moore combined for seven hitless innings and 12 strikeouts. They allowed just three baserunners, all of whom reached on walks.

Trailing, 2-0, in the top of the eighth inning, Phil Clarke smacked a hard-hit ball to the second baseman and reached on an error. Two batters later, Sebastian Espino broke up the no-hitter with a single into left field. Before Zac Cook came to bat with runners on first and second, the game was delayed and eventually called due to rain.

Adam Kloffenstein (L, 0-4) turned in his best start of the season and was one out away from a quality start. He went 5.2 innings, allowing seven hits and one earned run. He walked two and struck out two. The second Reading run scored on a bases loaded walk in the seventh.

In 11 games against Reading, New Hampshire has scored two runs or fewer eight times. Saturday was just the second time the team had one hit in a game all season (May 8, game two at Somerset).

The Fisher Cats concludes their series against Reading tomorrow, July 17 at 5:15 p.m. New Hampshire returns to Delta Dental Stadium on Friday, July 22 against the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox). Tickets can be found at NHFisherCats.com, via email at [email protected], over the phone at (603) 641-2005, or in-person at the Fisher Cats box office at 1 Line Drive in Manchester.