Groshans, Castillo Lead Fisher Cats to 3-1 Win Over Fightin Phils

Photo Credit Cindy Lavigne

Manchester, NH - Jordan Groshans ripped two doubles and Maximo Castillo logged his first quality start of the year as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays Double-A affiliate) beat the Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies) 3-1 at Delta Dental Stadium on Sunday to earn a series split.

Groshans finished the day 2-for-4 with a pair of two-baggers and an RBI. Castillo (W, 7-2) tossed six innings, allowing three hits and one run while striking out four and walking two.

The Fisher Cats (31-37) jumped ahead early against Fightin Phils starter Francisco Morales (L, 2-8) and never looked back.

Austin Martin led off the first inning with a walk, and two batters later, Otto Lopez singled to put runners at the corners with nobody out. LJ Talley followed with an RBI infield single to put New Hampshire ahead 1-0.

Groshans, who entered the day with a .973 OPS in the month of July, then ripped an RBI double to left to make it a 2-0 Fisher Cats lead. Samad Taylor capped the inning with an RBI single against Morales (5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K) to up the edge to 3-0. Taylor has now reached base in 34 consecutive games.

While Reading (29-43) scored one run in the third on an RBI single by Logan Landon, Castillo cruised the rest of the way.

Sean Rackoski (1.1IP, 1H, 1K), Brody Rodning (0.2 IP, 1 BB, 1 K) and Jon Harris (1.0 IP, 0 H) combined to shut the door, with Harris picking up his second save of the year with a perfect ninth.

Following the off day on Monday, New Hampshire will begin a six-game series at Portland (Red Sox) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Fans can catch all of the action on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network.

The Fisher Cats return home on August 3 for a six-game homestand against the Hartford Yard Goats. Highlights for the homestand include Atlas Fireworks (pres. by Primary Bank) and Youth Sports Night on Thursday, a Coca-Cola Sign Giveaway (pres. by Coke Northeast) on Friday, and Northwoods Law Night with Atlas Fireworks (pres. by NH Healthy Families) on Saturday. On Sunday, Kids Run The Bases (pres. by NH State Liquor Commission) and it's also Princesses at the Park Day. For tickets, visit nhfishercats.com.