Gallagher Fans Six as New Hampshire Drops Fourth Straight
BRIDGEWATER, NJ – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (5-11, 34-51) dropped its fourth straight to Somerset Patriots (11-5, 45-39) at TD Bank Ballpark on Friday night, 5-3. Trailing 5-3 in the top of the eighth inning, New Hampshire threatened with runners on first and third with two outs but failed
BRIDGEWATER, NJ – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (5-11, 34-51) dropped its fourth straight to Somerset Patriots (11-5, 45-39) at TD Bank Ballpark on Friday night, 5-3. Trailing 5-3 in the top of the eighth inning, New Hampshire threatened with runners on first and third with two outs but failed to convert. Fisher Cats reliever Pat Gallagher highlighted the night by recording six strikeouts of his seven outs of relief recorded.
New Hampshire starter Juaron Watts-Brown faced the minimum in the bottom of the first inning before walking the first three batters he faced in the second. Watts-Brown walked four batters and allowed two earned runs and no hits in 1-2/3 innings pitched before Gallagher (L, 2-2) entered in relief.
Tonight's top takeaways:
RHP Pat Gallagher collects six strikeouts in seven outs of relief
RHP Geison Urbaez tosses 2-1/3 scoreless frames
OF Gabriel Martinez records two hits, drives in one run
DH Robert Brooks knocks lone extra base hit
Making his Double-A debut, New Hampshire’s Chay Yeager entered the bottom of the fifth inning and allowed two runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout in 1-2/3 frames. Reliever Geison Urbaez kept New Hampshire close by holding Somerset to two hits over the final 2-1/3 innings.
Somerset left-hander Ben Shields (W, 1-0) got the start for the Patriots and notched his first win of the season with two earned runs on three hits and seven strikeouts over five innings. Mason Vinyard followed with 1-2/3 innings of scoreless relief with two punchouts before Danny Watson surrendered one run and fanned two in one inning. Patriots reliever Kelly Austin (S, 6) recorded the final four outs with one strikeout.
Somerset tallied the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning when the Patriots loaded the bases on three consecutive walks. Shortstop Max Burt worked an 11-pitch walk to plate the first run before designated hitter Brendan Jones walked to make it 2-0.
New Hampshire responded in the top of the fourth inning when right fielder Gabriel Martinez walked and scored from first on designated hitter Robert Brooks’ double. First baseman Alex De Jesus followed with a single to cash in Brooks from second to knot the score at 2-2.
The Patriots extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Jones singled to bring in third baseman Tyler Hardman to give Somerset a 3-2 advantage. Somerset took a three-run lead thanks to solo homers from second baseman Dylan Jasso in the bottom of the fifth inning and right fielder Cam Eden in the sixth that made it 5-2.
New Hampshire clawed back in the top of the eighth inning after leading off the frame with a pair of singles. With two outs in the inning, Martinez drilled a single to left field to score one run but the Fisher Cats failed to score runs after that to fall, 5-3.
The series continues with a 7:05 PM EDT first pitch on Saturday night. New Hampshire sends Alex Amalfi (3-6 5.72 ERA) to the mound for his third start of the season, and Trystan Vrieling (1-2, 5.40 ERA) gets the start for Somerset.
The Fisher Cats return to Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester on Friday, July 18 and welcome the Binghamton Rumble Ponies for three games after the break for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game.
The New Hampshire Space Potatoes touch down for the second time of their three scheduled appearances on Friday, July 18 with a 6:35 PM EDT first pitch. Christmas in July is Saturday, July 19, a ballpark experience that includes postgame fireworks.
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].