Ryan Tepera Named Pitcher of the Week
In conjunction with the Eastern League, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats announced that pitcher Ryan Tepera has been named the league's Pitcher of the Week for the week ending July 21. The righty took home his first weekly Eastern League honor - and the team's third of the season - on the strength of his outing on July 17 against the Portland Sea Dogs.
Tepera matched up against Portland last Wednesday looking to follow up the precedent set by Sean Nolin and Marcus Walden in the two prior games. Each of those starters went eight innings to defeat Portland, leaving Tepera the opportunity to seal the sweep on Wednesday. The Texan was up to the task, hurling an eight-inning gem in a 4-0 Fisher Cats shutout. Tepera allowed the Sea Dogs just four hits while striking out seven in his longest outing in two seasons in a Fisher Cats uniform.
The victory on Wednesday improved Tepera's record to 8-6 while lowering his ERA to 3.91, the lowest it has been since May 16. In two starts since the All-Star break, Tepera has allowed just one run in 14.0 innings of work. He has surrendered only seven hits with ten strikeouts and four walks during that time. The lone run in that stretch came on a lead-off home run on July 11 in Reading. He carries a 13-inning scoreless streak into his home start tonight against Harrisburg.
For the season, Tepera has allowed just 82 hits in 92.0 innings with 85 strikeouts against 43 walks. The Blue Jays' 19th-round selection in 2009 from Sam Houston State, Tepera joins Marcus Walden (May 19) and outfielder Brad Glenn (July 1) as the third weekly award winner for the Fisher Cats in 2013.
Tepera toes the rubber tonight against Harrisburg in the opener of a seven-game homestand that features three giveaways and three Atlas Fireworks shows. At tonight's game, all kids get in free (12 & under) with the purchase of an adult ticket courtesy of Hannaford Supermarkets. Tickets start as low as $6 and can be purchased in person at the stadium box office, over the phone at 603-641-2005, or online at www.nhfishercats.com.