Fisher Cats rally for walk-off win over Curve

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to rally past the Altoona Curve 6-5 Saturday night at Delta Dental Stadium.

New Hampshire (31-37) trailed 5-4 entering the ninth. Rafael Lantigua singled, Orelvis Martinez singled, and a pair of passed balls tied the game.Zac Cook singled to deep center to plate the winning run.

Altoona (32-36) opened a 3-0 lead in the top of the second when Brendt Citta launched his fourth home run of the season.

The Fisher Cats came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Chris Bec walked, and Sebastian Espino followed with a double. A Rafael Lantigua groundout scored one run and Martinez added an RBI single to cut the Curve lead to 3-2.

Altoona took a 4-2 lead in the fifth on an RBI double by Henry Davis, but Luis De Los Santos homered in New Hampshire’s sixth to make it 4-3. A single by Trevor Schwecke, a single by Cam Eden, and a double steal cut the lead to 5-4 in the eighth.

Sean Rackoski (4-0), the fifth New Hampshire pitcher, earned the win. The staff combined for 12 strikeouts in the win. Martinez and Lantigua each had three hits, part of a 13-hit attack for the Fisher Cats.

New Hampshire looks for a series win when the series with Altoona concludes on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. at Delta Dental Stadium. It will be Beach Day at the ballpark, and Kids Run the Bases after Sunday games courtesy of the N.H. Liquor Commission, Division of Enforcement. Tickets for all remaining home games 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.