Offense Struggles in Second Straight Defeat

Fisher Cats put winning runs on base late but can’t deliver

(Cindy Lavigne)

April 14, 2023

MANCHESTER, N.H— The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, couldn’t generate enough offense on Friday night, falling to the Portland Sea Dogs 3-1 at Delta Dental Stadium. Starting pitcher Paxton Schultz (0-1) made his 2023 home debut and pitched five innings, allowed three hits,

MANCHESTER, N.H— The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, couldn’t generate enough offense on Friday night, falling to the Portland Sea Dogs 3-1 at Delta Dental Stadium.

Starting pitcher Paxton Schultz (0-1) made his 2023 home debut and pitched five innings, allowed three hits, one earned run, no walks and struck out four. The right-hander through two starts so far this season has an ERA of 1.00 in nine innings. Last season, Schultz posted a 2.45 ERA in five appearances (four starts) against Portland.

PK Morris lined a double to right-center in the seventh to open the scoring for New Hampshire, bringing home Phil Clarke from second. It was Morris’s first Double-A RBI of his career.

New Hampshire (4-3) had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth but Morris grounded into a fielder’s choice and Sebastian Espino struck out swinging to end the game.

Portland (6-1) starting left-hander Shane Drohan (2-0) dazzled on the mound for the Sea Dogs, striking out six in six shutout innings of work.

The Fisher Cats continue the six-game homestand against Portland Saturday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. LHP Jimmy Robbins (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will get the start for New Hampshire tomorrow against RHP CJ Liu (0-0, 6.75 ERA) for the Sea Dogs.

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.