Fisher Cats Avenge Saturday with 22-1 Rout
MANCHESTER, N.H. - If revenge is a dish best served cold, it was an ice box at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium on Sunday afternoon. After losing 16-2 on Saturday night, the Fisher Cats (33-36) made it a memorable Father's Day with an 22-1 smashing of the Erie SeaWolves (36-31) to salvage the finale of a five-game homestand.
The Fisher Cats let the SeaWolves know right away that they meant business after Saturday night's loss. In the bottom of the first inning, Kevin Pillar smoked a double to the gap in left-center field to spark a four-run inning. A.J. Jimenez drove home the first run followed by a two-run homer from Brad Glenn. A two-out solo shot by Adam Loewen made it 4-0.
Two innings later, a five-spot added to the lead. Glenn and Kevin Nolan singled home runs before Loewen belted a second home run - this one a three-run drive - to push New Hampshire ahead 9-0 after three.
If it wasn't decided at that point, the Fisher Cats put the game away in the fourth inning. Nolan started the rally with a two-run double followed by a Jack Murphy RBI single to push the lead to 12-0. Tommy Manzella made it 13-1 with a bases loaded walk; it was 14-1 after Pillar picked up an RBI groundout. Before the inning was over, Jimenez picked up a two-out RBI, which was followed by a two-run error from Erie to cap an eight-run inning for a 17-0 lead.
Marcus Stroman (W; 3-1) was able to work free and easy with the big lead on Sunday, and he pitched a career-high six innings to earn his third win. The righty allowed a solo homer in the fifth for Erie's only run. He gave up just three total hits while striking out five and walking one.
After a scoreless fifth, the bats returned in the sixth with Pillar and Brian Van Kirk tallying consecutive doubles for an 18-1 lead. In the eighth, Jimenez drove home the 19th run followed by a two-run double by Nolan. Loewen capped off the affair with a double to score Nolan for the 22-1 margin.
As a team the Fisher Cats scored the most runs in a game since they set the franchise record of 23 on May 22, 2006 against Connecticut. Jimenez went 5-6 to set a new personal best in both categories while also tying the franchise record in each statistic.
Loewen finished the day 4-6 becoming the second player with two homers in a game for the Fisher Cats this season. He finished the day with five RBI, as did Nolan, who tied his career best in that category.
All told, every Fisher Cat in the line-up had at least one hit, every player scored a run, and eight of nine drove home a run.
After a 2-3 homestand, the Fisher Cats are off on Monday before beginning a six-game road trip Tuesday night in Altoona. RHP Marcus Walden gets the ball in the opener at 7 p.m. Radio coverage of the game begins at 6:45 p.m. with Bob Lipman on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and www.nhfishercats.com.
The Fisher Cats will return home for a seven-game homestand beginning Monday, June 24, against the Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies) and the Future Red Sox, the Portland Sea Dogs. During the opener, Kids get in Free courtesy of Hannaford Supermarkets. The rest of the stand will feature three Atlas Fireworks shows and two giveaways. Tickets are available at www.nhfishercats.com, at the Fisher Cats ticket office, and by calling (603) 641-2005.