Fisher Cats Clinch First Series Win of 2023

Eleven hits help New Hampshire to back-to-back victories

April 7, 2023

ALTOONA, Pa. (April 7, 2023) — Four different hitters had multi-hit performances to give the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, a 7-2 victory over the Altoona Curve at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Friday night. Leo Jimenez, Damiano Palmegiani, Kekai Rios, and Steward

ALTOONA, Pa. (April 7, 2023) — Four different hitters had multi-hit performances to give the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, a 7-2 victory over the Altoona Curve at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Friday night.

Leo Jimenez, Damiano Palmegiani, Kekai Rios, and Steward Berroa all recorded two hits. Palmegiani tallied his second RBI in as many games with an infield RBI single in the 3^rd. Palmegiani has now reached base seven times in 10 tries to open the season.

Zach Britton drove in a game-high three runs and picked up his first hit of the season. He came through with a two-run infield single in the 4^th to widen the Fisher Cats lead to 5-0. Britton drove in his third run of the night on a fielder’s choice in the 8^th.

Seven Fisher Cats starters collected a hit. Miguel Hiraldo drilled an RBI double to the center-field wall in the 2^nd in his first Double-A at-bat to put New Hampshire up 1-0. Orelvis Martinez, the Blue Jays No. 4 prospect, picked up his first hit of the season, knocking in Sebastian Espino with an RBI single down the left-field line to extend the lead 7-0 in the 8^th, the largest lead of the game for New Hampshire.

Paxton Schultz threw four shutout innings in the start for the Fisher Cats (2-0). He only allowed two hits, did not issue a walk, and struck out five batters. Last season, Schultz made three starts where he did not allow an earned run and pitched at least four or more innings.

Nick Fraze (1-0) earned the win after pitching two scoreless, hitless innings out of the bullpen beginning in the 5^th. Andrew Bash and Jol Concepcion finished the evening, combining to strike out six Altoona (0-2) batters over the final three innings.

Justin Meis (0-1) took the loss, despite only allowing one earned run over three innings. It was the second consecutive game Altoona’s starter was the losing pitcher, as the Fisher Cats have not trailed in the series.

The Fisher Cats close out the three-game road series against the Curve Saturday at 1:00 p.m. LHP Jimmy Robbins is scheduled to make the start against RHP Jared Jones for the Curve. The Fisher Cats return home for a six-game series against the Future Red Sox (Portland Sea Dogs) beginning next Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. Tickets are available 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.