New Hampshire Splits Doubleheader to Reading

Manchester, N.H. – In their fourth doubleheader of the season, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (9-8) split two games against the Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies, 5-12). The Fisher Cats bats lit up in a game one win, 10-2, and Reading edged out New Hampshire in game two, 5-2.

Game 1 – New Hampshire 10, Reading 2

The Fisher Cats exploded for 14 hits in the first game of the twin bill, their most in a game all season. Spencer Horwitz, Phil Clarke and Will Robertson each had three hits and combined to drive in nine of New Hampshire’s 10 runs.

The hit parade started in the first inning, as all nine batters got to the plate in the frame. Tanner Morris, Luis De Los Santos and Horwitz singled, and Horwitz’s base knock into right field scored the first run of the game. Then, Clarke blasted his first home run of the year, a three-run shot over the right field wall. New Hampshire led, 4-0, after the first inning. They have now scored 20 runs in first innings this season.

Robertson smacked a two-RBI double to left-center field in the third and made the score 6-0. The Creighton product finished 3-for-3, and he is 6-for-14 over his last four games.

On the mound, New Hampshire starter Joey Murray allowed just three Reading baserunners across the first three innings. Reading did not tally a hit until two outs in the fourth. A double and a home run cut the Fisher Cats lead to 6-2.

Murray finished with 4.2 innings of work, two earned runs, two hits, four walks and four strikeouts. He threw 91 pitches and is the first New Hampshire pitcher to throw 90+ in a game. Murray threw just 0.2 innings in all of 2021 as he dealt with an injury.

Orelvis Martinez and Horwitz drove in a combined three runs in the fifth inning. Martinez roped a double to left field and now has nine extra base hits this season. Clarke then drove in Horwitz in the sixth for the final run of the game.

Braden Scott (W, 1-0) and Sean Rackoski combined for 2.1 scoreless innings of relief to secure the win for New Hampshire, 10-2.

Game 2 – Reading 5, New Hampshire 2

New Hampshire once again struck first in game two. Spencer Horwitz tallied his fourth RBI of the doubleheader with a two-out triple down the first base line into right field. The triple was just the third of Horwitz’s minor league career and his first since June 2, 2021.

Two batters later, Zac Cook scored Horwitz with a single into right field. The Fisher Cats led, 2-0, after the first inning.

Reading would score one run in innings two, three, five, six and seven en route to a 5-2 win.

Fisher Cats starter Nick Fraze (L, 1-2) threw a season-high 5.2 innings and allowed four earned runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out four. Fraze did not allow more than two hits in any inning.

New Hampshire will return to a normal 6:35 p.m. start time for their third game versus Reading tomorrow, April 28 at Delta Dental Stadium. The six-game homestand extends through Sunday, May 1. 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.