Opitz Homers Late, but Fisher Cats Fall 4-3

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Shane Opitz launched a game-tying, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, but the Portland Sea Dogs edged the Fisher Cats, 4-3, in ten innings on Wednesday night in the penultimate home game of 2015. The late back-and-forth represented the third straight game in which the winning runs were tallied in the seventh inning or later in the series.

Portland started the scoring right away against starter Taylor Cole (ND) in the first inning. Manuel Margot singled, took second on a sac bunt, and then came in for a 1-0 lead on a base hit by Sam Travis.

An inning later, the Fisher Cats tied it up thanks to Jorge Flores. With two down, the All-Star singled to center to push home Matt Newman to level the game, 1-1.

That's how it stayed until the seventh when, with one out, Cole allowed a solo home run to Keury De La Cruz to put Portland back on top, 2-1. A second run in the inning, surrendered by Dustin Antolin, gave Portland a 3-1 advantage.

It was still 3-1 when the Fisher Cats came to bat in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Emilio Guerrero singled to left. Opitz followed with a home run to right center to tie things up at 3-3. It was Optiz' third home run of the year, his first since May 26. 

Portland re-took the lead in the tenth against Wil Browning, using the same method of scoring they used in the first. Margot singled, took second on a sac bunt, and then scored when Travis laced his third hit of the game to center field.

New Hampshire attempted another rally in the tenth, working the bases loaded against Kyle Martin. K.C. Hobson and Martin Medina each singled with one out. A two-out walk to Derrick Chung loaded them up, but Emilio Guerrero tapped out weakly to the mound to end the threat.

Martin (W; 2-0) earned the win while Browning (L; 1-1) took the loss.

Hobson led the Fisher Cats ten-hit attack with a 3-for-5 performance. Opitz and Medina each had two hits in the defeat.

The Fisher Cats now host their final home game of the season on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Subway gift card worth up to $100. After the game, the final Atlas Fireworks show of the season. Tickets are available at www.nhfishercats.com, by calling (603)641-2005, and by visiting the box office at the ballpark.

The pitching match-up on Thursday features Conner Greene against Portland's Justin Haley. Tom Gauthier will have the call beginning at 6:15 p.m. on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and at www.nhfishercats.com.