Manchester, N.H. -Harold Ramirez was thrown out at home plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to conclude a heartbreaking 8-7 loss for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays Double-A affiliate) at the hands of the Reading Fightin' Phils (Philadelphia Phillies).New Hampshire trailed 4-1 early,
Manchester, N.H. -Harold Ramirez was thrown out at home plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to conclude a heartbreaking 8-7 loss for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays Double-A affiliate) at the hands of the Reading Fightin' Phils (Philadelphia Phillies).
New Hampshire trailed 4-1 early, but entered the ninth inning with an 6-4 lead thanks to a go-ahead two-run single from Bo Bichette in the seventh and an insurance run-scoring single from Max Pentecost in the eighth.
Reading scored four times in the ninth with an RBI double from Austin Listi and a three-run homer by Darick Hall to take an 8-6 lead against Andrew Case (BS, 2)(L, 1-3).
The Fisher Cats would not go down quietly in the bottom half. The tying runs reached base against Jeff Singer (S, 6) with a Jonathan Davis walk and a Harold Ramirez single. Eastern League home run leader Cavan Biggio -- who hit his 19th earlier in the game -- ripped a double down the right field line. Davis scored from third base, but Harold Ramirez was ruled out at the plate to end the game, 8-7.
Biggio's second-inning homer had the Fisher Cats in front 1-0 before the Fightin' Phils scored four unanswered runs off T.J. Zeuch to take a 4-1 lead. Nash Knight hit his first Double-A home run to make it 4-2 in the fifth, and Jonathan Davis followed with a homer of his own to close the gap to one. It was the second time in three games the Fisher Cats hit back-to-back homers.
Biggio finished 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs, while Davis and Knight each collected a pair of hits. The loss extended New Hampshire's losing streak to a season-high four games.
The Fisher Cats will reach the Eastern League All-Star Break after a Sunday matinee with the Fightin Phils at 1:35 p.m. RHP Jon Harris will take the mound for New Hampshire. Ever wonder could have been? We ask that question Sunday as the Fisher Cats take the field as the New Hampshire Mountain Men, one of the finalists in the 2004 'Name the Team' Contest. The team will be wearing limited-edition jerseys and Old Man of the Mountain hats. The first 1,000 fans will receive a replica jersey. For tickets and information, visit www.nhfishercats.com.
