Fisher Cats end Thursday doubleheader vs Akron in a split

MANCHESTER, N.H — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, split the doubleheader to the Akron RubberDucks on Thursday night, winning the first game 9-7 and losing the second game 8-3 at Delta Dental Stadium.

In the first game, the Fisher Cats hit four home runs to right field leading them to a 9-7 victory over the RubberDucks.

Will Robertson launched a solo home run in the third to open the scoring for New Hampshire. Robertson had 12 homers in 2022 and already has eight this year.

Kekai Rios tied up the score 2-2 with a base hit up the middle in the fourth to bring home Riley Tirotta. In his first game back since May 27 after being activated off the development list, Rios went 2-for-3 and reached base three times.

Leo Jimenez broke the tie with a three-run home run to right field, his fourth homer of the season and his first home run at Delta Dental Stadium. He was a triple shy of the cycle and now has 11 extra base hits since being activated off the injured list on May 23. Before that, he only had one extra base hit.

Zac Cook’s two-run homer added insurance in the fifth, his fourth of the season and his first homer in two and a half weeks.

Tirotta hit his second home run of the season in the sixth to make it a 9-6 game after six innings, part of a 2-for-4 day at the plate for the right-fielder.

Left-handed reliever Mason Fluharty (2-1) collected the win after 1.1 innings pitched with a strikeout while right-hander Connor Cooke received his first Double-A save with four strikeouts in 1.2 innings thrown.

In the second game, New Hampshire mustered three runs on only four hits in an 8-3 defeat.

Akron scored three in the third and four in the fifth behind three-RBI games by Jose Tena and Juan Brito to split the doubleheader.

On the mound, left-hander Trenton Wallace (0-1) made his first start at Delta Dental Stadium since being promoted from High-A Vancouver last week. Wallace threw four innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out six, receiving the loss.

Damiano Palmegiani lifted his ninth homer of the year with a towering shot off the Hilton Garden Inn in left-center field in the first. Palmegiani went 2-for-3 on the night, his team-leading 15^th multi-hit game of the season.

Cook homered for the second straight game with his fifth dinger of the year to right field in the seventh.

The Fisher Cats continue their home stand against the Akron Rubberducks tomorrow at 7:05 pm. LHP Jimmy Robbins (2-5, 6.27 ERA) will get the start for New Hampshire against LHP Doug Nikhazy (2-2, 3.48 ERA) for Akron.

Promotions for this week include State Champs Night Friday, presented by Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Cats Con Night Saturday, courtesy of Belletetes, with postgame Atlas Fireworks and Father’s Day Sunday, with Kids Run the Bases postgame, sponsored by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission Division of Enforcement. The first 1,000 fans will also receive a free hat, courtesy of Delta Dental.

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.