Rosario Homers in Front of 6,568

New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats were dropped by the Reading Fightin' Phils by the score of 5-3 on Friday night at New Britain Stadium. The capacity crowd of 6,568 roared all night long in support of the Cats' but in the end it was Reading's aggressiveness at the plate that propelled them to victory.

 

The home club jumped out to a 1-0 lead on doubles from both DH Aaron Hicks and 1B Reynaldo Rodriguez. Rodriguez, recently named to the 2014 Eastern League All-Star game, added to his league lead in two-baggers when he drove RHP Severino Gonzalez's offering out to right-center, sending Hicks across the plate for the game's first run.

 

New Britain made it a 2-0 contest in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from RF Lance Ray, who was appearing in his first home game with the Rock Cats.

 

The Fightin' Phils pulled even in the top half of the fourth, picking up two runs on productive outs once the bases were loaded with just one out. The visitors collected two hits off of LHP Pat Dean and benefitted off a fielding error.

 

Reading then pulled ahead the following inning on a sacrifice fly from LF Kelly Dugan, scoring 2B Carlos Alonso who punched a one-out single past SS Brad Boyer.

 

CF Eddie Rosario tied up the ballgame once again with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the fifth. The solo shot, Rosario's third of the season, knotted the game 3-3.

 

Fightin' Phils runs in the sixth and ninth ultimately sunk the Rock Cat's hopes of getting back on top, although New Britain did threaten in the bottom of the ninth with runners on first and second with just one out. RHP Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez reared back and struck out back-to-back hitters to close out the game for his first save of the year.

 

Dean battled through 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on ten hits while walking none and striking out two. RHP Adrian Salcedo looked impressive in 2 1/3 scoreless relief, striking out three and giving up zero hits and zero walks. Dean falls to 6-5 on the year.

 

The starter Gonzalez improved his record to 6-9, scattering six hits while allowing three runs, walking one and striking out three.

 

New Britain continues the four-game series against the Phillies Double-A affiliate on Saturday evening. Rock Cats starter LHP Taylor Rogers takes the hill against LHP Hoby Miller in a battle of southpaws. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.