New Hampshire gets in win column at Akron

Fishers Cats tally 12 hits, end three-game slide

(Photo courtesy of Cindy Lavigne)

May 28, 2022

Akron, Ohio – Eight of nine Fisher Cats tallied hits, Paxton Schultz tossed a gem, and Chris Bec had one of the plays of the year as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (18-24) defeated the Akron RubberDucks (Cleveland Guardians, 26-17) on Friday night. The win was the Fisher Cats’ first

Akron, Ohio – Eight of nine Fisher Cats tallied hits, Paxton Schultz tossed a gem, and Chris Bec had one of the plays of the year as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (18-24) defeated the Akron RubberDucks (Cleveland Guardians, 26-17) on Friday night. The win was the Fisher Cats’ first of the week over Akron and snapped a three-game losing streak.

Orelvis Martinez and LJ Talley homered early, putting New Hampshire up, 3-1. For Martinez, the blast was his 14th of the season. For Talley, the home run was his first of 2022 with New Hampshire. He hit eight last year for the Fisher Cats.

Rafael Lantigua brought home the next two runs for the Fisher Cats with RBI singles in the fourth and sixth innings. He finished 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a walk. Friday was Lantigua’s eighth multi-hit game of the season and fourth with multiple RBIs. He is hitting .333 with 10 doubles and 12 RBIs in May.

New Hampshire led, 6-1, going into the eighth inning thanks in large part to starter Paxton Schultz (W, 3-4). He went 5.0 innings allowing two hits and one earned run. He walked two and struck out one. He is 2-1 this month.

In the bottom of the sixth, Akron threatened with runners on first and second. Jose Tena singled into right field, and Sebastian Espino fired a dart home to Chris Bec. George Valera avoided the tag at the plate, and he and Bec danced around home plate for a moment. Bec then sat criss-cross applesauce on home plate, waiting for Valera to make a move. He was tagged out to end the inning, as the crowd in Akron roared with laughter. For the video, check out our Twitter account @FisherCats.

Akron would add one run in the eighth and another in the ninth. Sean Mellen came out for a one-pitch save to close the game.

Zac Cook and Bec each finished with two hits, too. The 12 hits for New Hampshire were their most in a game since May 17 at Erie.

The Fisher Cats continue their six-game set at Akron tomorrow, May 28 at 7:05 p.m. The RubberDucks are 15-3 in their last 18 games.

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.