Seven-run inning propels Fisher Cats to win

New Hampshire bats explode for 13 hits

(Photo courtesy of Kristin Basnett)

June 9, 2022

Manchester, N.H. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (25-28) piled on seven runs in the top of the first inning and coasted to a win, 9-5, over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets, 20-33) on Thursday night at Mirabito Stadium. All nine players in the Fisher Cats’ batting order

Manchester, N.H. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (25-28) piled on seven runs in the top of the first inning and coasted to a win, 9-5, over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets, 20-33) on Thursday night at Mirabito Stadium. All nine players in the Fisher Cats’ batting order tallied a hit, and seven scored.

New Hampshire’s seven-run first inning was tied for their highest-scoring inning of the season. The Fisher Cats had seven hits, started off by four straight singles from Rafael Lantigua, John Aiello, Spencer Horwitz and LJ Talley. Lantigua went 2-for-2 in the inning and 2-for-4 in the game with two runs and a walk. He has now walked in six straight games.

Sebastian Espino doubled later in the first inning, scoring Talley from second. Two batters later, Cam Eden homered for the second time in as many days. His blast led to Binghamton starter Jose Chacin’s (L, 0-1) departure. Chacin threw just 0.2 innings and allowed seven earned runs, the most he has allowed in a game since August 18, 2019.

Espino finished 2-for-4 with two doubles. He is 9-for-24 (.375) with three doubles and three homers against Binghamton this season. Espino spent time in the New York Mets system before he was acquired by Toronto via Rule 5 in 2020.

Catcher Chris Bec also had two hits, finishing 2-for-4 with his first RBI of the season. Zac Cook went 1-for-2 with a hit by pitch. He has now been hit by 18 pitches this season, tying the New Hampshire single-season record in just over two months.

On the mound, Gabriel Ponce (W, 1-0) earned the win with 3.0 scoreless, hitless innings. He had no walks and struck out three. The only baserunner Ponce allowed was via a hit by pitch. Ponce has not allowed an earned run in his last 14.0 innings across six appearances. Parker Caracci finished off the game with two scoreless innings, striking out three.

The Fisher Cats return home to Delta Dental Stadium on June 14 for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch against the Somerset Patriots (New York Yankees). The Patriots are in second place in the Northeast division of the Eastern League at 34-19. 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.