Lantigua highlights offense, big win at Erie

Manchester, N.H. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (16-17) won big, 13-3, against the Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers, 17-17) on Tuesday at UPMC Park in Erie, Pennsylvania. The 13 runs and 18 hits marked season-highs for New Hampshire, and the Fisher Cats scored seven in the top of the ninth.

Rafael Lantigua and Phil Clarke each had four hits. Lantigua was the designated hitter in the two-spot and finished with a double, three singles and three RBIs. His two-out single in the sixth scored two, and he drove in another run in the eighth. Lantigua leads the team in doubles with eight.

Clarke led off in fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth innings. He doubled in the seventh inning and tallied two singles in the ninth.

Will Robertson also added two hits in the ninth inning. He hit a two-run homer, his third of the season, and doubled. He finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs.

New Hampshire’s seven-run, eight-hit ninth inning was their best frame at the plate all season. 12 batters came to the plate, and Orelvis Martinez smashed a three-run homer off the top of the Erie Insurance Arena in left field. He leads the league in home runs with 11.

Spencer Horwitz, Luis De Los Santos and Tanner Morris each had two hits and a double. The team’s seven doubles were their most in a game all year.

Nick Fraze turned in a solid start on the mound for the Cats. He went 4.1 innings and allowed three earned runs, striking out a career-high nine batters. Jake Elliott (W, 2-0) threw 1.2 hitless, scoreless innings and struck out two. Cre Finfrock threw his best outing of the year, earning a hold with 2.0 hitless, scoreless innings.

New Hampshire scored three runs in the sixth off Erie’s Nick Kuzia (L, 0-3). The SeaWolves threw six relievers, including a position player in the ninth inning.

The Fisher Cats continue their six-game road series against the Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers) tomorrow, May 18 at 6:05 p.m. New Hampshire returns home on Tuesday, May 31 versus 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.