Yesavage Fans Nine as Losing Skid Slides to Three Games
MANCHESTER, NH – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (16-20, 45-60) fell to the Reading Fightin Phils (15-21, 40-63) at Delta Dental Stadium on Friday night, 5-3. The Fisher Cats scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-1 lead but were held to one hit
MANCHESTER, NH – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (16-20, 45-60) fell to the Reading Fightin Phils (15-21, 40-63) at Delta Dental Stadium on Friday night, 5-3. The Fisher Cats scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-1 lead but were held to one hit over the final six innings to drop their third game in a row.
Making his first career professional start, New Hampshire’s Chay Yeager surrendered one run on two hits with two strikeouts over two innings of work. After Yeager opened the contest, right-hander Trey Yesavage entered in the top of the third and went on to match his Double-A high with nine punchouts over five innings pitched. In his eighth start with New Hampshire, Yesavage gave up two runs on four hits and no walks. Reliever Conor Larkin (L, 4-4) surrendered two runs on three hits in one inning of work, and righty Johnathan Lavallee picked up two punchouts in one relief frame.
Tonight’s top takeaways:
RHP Trey Yesavage matches Double-A high nine strikeouts
RHP Johnathan Lavallee racks up two punchouts in scoreless relief outing
OF Je’Von Ward extends hit streak to six games
INF Cade Doughty knocks pair of singles, goes 2-for-4
Reading starter Estibenzon Jimenez collected a new Double-A high 10 strikeouts and recorded a quality start after allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings pitched. Righty Eiberson Castellano (W, 3-1) fired two scoreless innings of relief before Andrew Walling (S, 5) dealt a scoreless bottom of the ninth.
After Reading jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, New Hampshire responded by loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second inning. Center fielder Dasan Brown singled in one run to tie the game before catcher Robert Brooks put the Cats ahead on a sacrifice fly. Designated hitter Victor Arias followed by knocking a single to give New Hampshire a 3-1 lead.
The Fisher Cats led off the bottom of the third inning with back-to-back singles from left fielder Je’Von Ward and shortstop Cade Doughty. The Fisher Cats stranded both runners on base and were held to one hit across the next six frames. Ward’s single moved his hit streak to six games while Doughty went on to go 2-for-4.
The R-Phils cut New Hampshire’s deficit to 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning on a solo homer from center fielder Dylan Campbell. Reading put two runners on to start the top of the eighth inning before left fielder Felix Reyes tied the game with a sacrifice fly and designated hitter Caleb Rickets doubled to extend the Fightin Phils’ lead to 5-3.
Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, pinch-hitter Charles McAdoo roped a double but was left stranded in scoring position as the Fisher Cats fell, 5-3.
The series moves into the weekend with a 6:35 PM EDT first pitch on Saturday night. Right-hander Chuck King (5-5, 4.76 ERA) gets the nod for Reading and New Hampshire’s starter is to be determined.
The series concludes on Sunday, August 10 at 1:35 PM EDT as the first 1,000 fans in attendance will go home with a Golden Glove Dasan Brown bobblehead, courtesy of Northeast Delta Dental.
New Hampshire checks out of the Granite State for the next two weeks, and kick-start a back-to-back road trip with a six-game series in Binghamton. The Fisher Cats meet the Akron RubberDucks for their lone series of 2025, beginning Tuesday, August 19.
Fans can purchase 2025 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 Delta Dental Stadium Box Office on 1 Line Drive in Manchester, New Hampshire.
About the New Hampshire Fisher Cats
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays and play their games at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. Over 160 former Fisher Cats have reached the Major League level. The Fisher Cats have raised millions of dollars for various charities through the Fisher Cats Foundation and continuously strive to improve the quality of life for Granite State residents. The organization has been recognized as New Hampshire Business Review’s “Best Sporting Event to Take Clients to”, Parenting New Hampshire Magazine’s “New Hampshire’s Favorite Sporting Event for Families”, and New Hampshire Magazine’s “Best New Hampshire Sports Team”. For more information on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, please visit nhfishercats.com, call (603) 641-2005, or contact Chris Jared via email at [email protected].