Manchester, N.H. - Matt Dean broke a 2-2 tie with an RBI double and John Straka won his season debut with the Fisher Cats in New Hampshire's 3-2 win Saturday, earning the team a split of a doubleheader with Portland at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.The Sea Dogs won the first
Manchester, N.H. - Matt Dean broke a 2-2 tie with an RBI double and John Straka won his season debut with the Fisher Cats in New Hampshire's 3-2 win Saturday, earning the team a split of a doubleheader with Portland at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.The Sea Dogs won the first game 2-1.
Straka (W, 1-0), who pitched for the Fisher Cats at the end of 2016, allowed two runs on seven hits in five innings to earn the win. Andrew Case worked around a lead-off double by Cole Sturgeon to earn his fifth save for New Hampshire (36-56). Portland (43-46) scored twice in the top of the first inning. Danny Mars singled and Cole Sturgeon doubled to start the game. Michael Chavis grounded out as Mars scored and after Jeremy Barfield walked, Henry Urritia plated Sturgeon with a single for a 2-0 lead.
New Hampshire bounced back with a pair of doubles in the bottom of the first inning. Jonathan Davis scored on a two-bagger by Harold Ramirez. Gunnar Heidt led off the second inning for the Fisher Cats with his 10th home run to tie the game at 2-2.
The Fisher Cats took the lead for the first time in the doubleheader in the bottom of the fourth inning. Alex Monsalve singled and scored on Dean's long double to the wall in left center field to make it 3-2 New Hampshire.
Taylor Grover (L, 2-5) took the loss for the Sea Dogs.
In the opener, Portland's Elih Villanueva (W, 3-3) allowed two hits in six scoreless innings in the Sea Dogs 2-1 win. Portland scored twice in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead. Danny Mars doubled and Josh Tobias reached on a bunt. Both would score on a single by Sea Dogs right fielder Jeremy Barfield.
The Fisher Cats threatened in the bottom of the seventh of the first game. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled and Tim Lopes singled. Gunnar Heidt grounded out to score Gurriel but Williams Jerez struck out Matt Dean to end the contest, earning his fourth save.
Francisco Rios (L, 3-9) allowed two runs, one earned in the loss. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out five. The Fisher Cats and Sea Dogs conclude the series on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. The first 1,000 fans at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium will receive FREE Replica Jerseys, courtesy of Powerade! Also Kids Run the Bases after every Sunday day game! For tickets and information, visit www.nhfishercats.com.
