Late-inning offense helps Fisher Cats secure series finale

BINGHAMTON, N.Y — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, secured the series finale on Sunday night against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies by a score of 8-4 from Mirabito Stadium.

In a 4-4 game after seven innings, New Hampshire (10-20, 45-53) plated four runs across in the eighth and ninth innings to win the game.

Andres Sosa delivered the go-ahead hit in the eighth off left-handed reliever Daniel Juarez (1-3) with a tiebreaking RBI single to left, one of his game-high three hits and one of his two RBIs on the night. It was Sosa’s second three-hit game at the Double-A level.

Riley Tirotta added a run with a double down the line, his first hit of the series, before Sebastian Espino made it a three-run eighth inning with a sac fly to left.

Sosa drew a bases loaded walk in the ninth to tack on another run.

Miguel Hiraldo led the team with three RBIs on one swing, a three-run homer to left-center in the fifth. It was Hiraldo’s sixth homer of the season and his first home run in almost a month.

Starting right-hander Abdiel Mendoza made his second Double-A start in the series. The 24-year-old Panamanian threw five innings, allowed two runs on five hits and one walk and struck out five in a no-decision. Mendoza has now gone five innings in three of his last four starts between Double-A New Hampshire and High-A Vancouver.

Out of the bullpen, right-hander Fitz Stadler struck out three in 1.2 innings while right-hander T.J Brock (2-1) picked up the win after throwing an 1.1 shutout innings with a pair of strikeouts. Right-hander Juan Nunez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts to close out the game.

The Fisher Cats return to Delta Dental Stadium on Tuesday at 7:05 to open a six-game home stand against the Reading Fightin’ Phils.

Promotions for the week include First Responders Night Thursday with postgame Atlas Fireworks, presented by Eastern Propane & Oil, UNH Soccer Night Friday, Wizards & Wands Night Saturday, presented by Belletetes, and a Cooler Bag Giveaway Sunday, presented by Coke Northeast, with Kids Run the Bases Postgame, sponsored by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission Division of Enforcement.

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.