Rock Cats Win for Second Time in Three Games vs Reading

New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats defeated the Reading Fightin Phils 6-5 at New Britain Stadium on Saturday night. The Rock Cats used a three-run 5th inning to take the lead for good. OF Jordan Patterson had three hits including the go-ahead 2-run double and RHP Shane Carle became the Eastern League's third 10-game winner in six solid innings. The victory was the second for the Rock Cats in the first three games against Reading and moved the Rockies' affiliate to within 6.5 games of the final playoff spot in the E.L. East. The two clubs wrap up the four game set tomorrow afternoon and the Rock Cats will try for their first series win this month.  

Reading scored the first three runs of the game on five hits in the third inning off New Britain starter Shane Carle. OF Brian Pointer cranked an RBI double while SS J.P. Crawford and Brock Stassi followed with RBI singles.

The Rock Cats responded with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. SS Pat Valaika and OF Mike Tauchman began the frame with back-to-back doubles as part of four straight hits against Fightin starter Mark Leiter Jr. 1B Dean Espy joined the hit parade with a run scoring single to make it a 3-2 game.  

New Britain added three more runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. Patterson doubled home Valaika and Tauchman putting the Rock Cats ahead 4-3. Patterson scored on a sacrifice fly by Dean Espy. The Cats added a run in the 8th on a passed ball.  

Reading scored a pair of runs off reliever Carlos Estevez in the 9th inning before he struck out Brian Pointer to earn his 4th save.  

The Rock Cats wrap up the 4-game weekend series against the Reading Fightin Phils tomorrow afternoon at New Britain Stadium (1:35 PM).