New Hampshire Sweeps Thursday Twin Bill

MANCHESTER, NH – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (19-23) won both games in a Thursday doubleheader against the Somerset Patriots at Delta Dental Stadium, 5-4 and 9-0. Shortstop Josh Kasevich singled to clinch game one in walk-off fashion, and the Fisher Cats scored nine runs on 13 hits in game two’s shutout victory.

In game one, lefty starter Trenton Wallace notched his third quality start of the month of May with five strikeouts and two walks. Somerset scored three runs on a pair of home runs to lead New Hampshire after three innings, 3-0.

Relievers Eric Pardinho and Ryan Boyer (W, 1-2) combined for five strikeouts and no walks or earned runs in the final three innings to ensure the game one win.

The Fisher Cats found the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, beginning with Kasevich’s 11th double of the season. Third baseman Alex De Jesus singled and Kasevich scored on a throwing error to cut the deficit to 3-1.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, New Hampshire fought with three consecutive hits. After a De Jesus single, catcher Phil Clarke and left fielder Gabriel Martinez doubled consecutively to tie game one at 3-3.

The Fisher Cats held a chance to win the first game with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the seventh, but De Jesus popped out to force an extra frame. Somerset and New Hampshire each plated their inherited runners in the eighth inning. With second baseman Michael Turconi beginning the bottom of the ninth at second, Kasevich singled to center to bring the winning run across and deliver New Hampshire’s first walk-off win of the season.

New Hampshire was the away team in game two, a make-up of the May 5 matchup which was postponed due to rain.

In game two, first baseman Rainer Nuñez returned from the 7-day IL with a bang, and smacked an opposite field two-run homer which plated catcher Zach Britton. The Fisher Cats plated runs in the fifth, when Britton singled in Roden, and sixth, as right fielder Garrett Spain scored from third on an errant attempt to nab a stealing Miguel Hiraldo. The Cats held a 4-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh.

Facing Somerset outfielder Aaron Palensky, who had come in to pitch, New Hampshire scored five runs on four hits, a walk and a hit batter in the top of the seventh. De Jesus and Turconi both doubled in the frame. After the Cats batted around, the score was 9-0.

Right-hander Nick Fraze tossed three scoreless innings for New Hampshire in his second start across Blue Jays affiliates in 2024. Southpaw Ian Churchill, righty Abdiel Mendoza (W, 3-4) and left-hander Jimmy Burnette combined to blank the Patriots from the fourth through seventh. The 9-0 victory is the Fisher Cats' third shutout win of the campaign

Friday is Mental Health Awareness night, presented by Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc., at Delta Dental Stadium. There are also postgame fireworks presented by Hyundai. On the mound, righty Devereaux Harrison (1-2, 4.84 ERA) toes the rubber for the Fisher Cats against Somerset right-hander Bailey Dees (2-3, 3.99 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM EDT.

Following a two-week road trip to Akron (May 28–June 2) and Erie (June 4–June 9), New Hampshire’s next homestand is June 11-16 against the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the San Francisco Giants’ Double-A club.

Fans can purchase multi-game memberships and single-game tickets at NHFishercats.com, via email at [email protected], by phone at (603) 641-2005, and in-person at the Fisher Cats box office on 1 Line Drive in Manchester.