Fisher Cats overcome blown lead to win third in a row
MANCHESTER, N.H — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, overcame a blown lead on Tuesday, defeating the Reading Fightin’ Phils 9-8 to win the series opener at Delta Dental Stadium. With New Hampshire up 7-1 after the fourth, Reading (18-27) rallied for seven
MANCHESTER, N.H — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, overcame a blown lead on Tuesday, defeating the Reading Fightin’ Phils 9-8 to win the series opener at Delta Dental Stadium.
With New Hampshire up 7-1 after the fourth, Reading (18-27) rallied for seven runs total in the sixth and seventh to take an 8-7 lead with help from a season-high 12 walks allowed by Fisher Cats pitching.
New Hampshire (23-22) reclaimed the lead in the eighth on a Will Robertson go-ahead two-run home run to give the Fisher Cats their third win in a row. His last two home runs at Delta Dental Stadium have served as the go-ahead runs in the game.
The Fisher Cats plated four runs in the first inning off Phillies No. 3 prospect and right-hander Griff McGarry. Phil Clarke doubled in two runs with a liner to right and Riley Tirotta tripled in Clarke with a line drive to left-center to make it 4-0 after the first.
Tirotta hit his first Double-A home run in the third onto the Hilton Garden Inn patio. He is 5-for-13 at the plate in four Double-A games so far with a double, triple, homer and six RBIs.
Damiano Palmegiani recorded his first three-hit game of the year with a 3-for-5 night at the plate. He has now reached base in 36 of 41 games played this season.
Right-handed reliever Connor Cooke (1-0) picked up his first Double-A win after two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
The Fisher Cats continue their six-game home stand against the Reading Fightin’ Phils tomorrow at 11:35 am. RHP Sem Robberse (0-4, 4.95 ERA) will get the start for New Hampshire against RHP Victor Vargas (0-0, 7.36 ERA) for Reading.
Promotions for the week include Common Man for Ukraine Night and a Fisher Cats Hat Giveaway Thursday, Military Appreciation Night Friday, 603 Night Saturday sponsored by WorkReady N-H with postgame AutoFair Fireworks and an Adult T-Shirt Giveaway Sunday, courtesy of Fidium Fiber with Kids Run the Bases postgame, sponsored by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission Division of Enforcement.
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.