Fisher Cats Win Third Straight with Three Runs in Ninth

Photo Credit: Kristin Basnett

Portland, ME - Third-ranked Blue Jays prospect Jordan Groshans broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run bloop double in the top of the ninth inning to lead the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays Double-A affiliate) to a 4-2 win over the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox) on Saturday night at Hadlock Field.

The teams played even through eight innings, with the offense limited to sacrifice flies from Otto Lopez in the fifth and Joey Meneses in the sixth.

LJ Talley started the ninth with an infield single to third base, and advanced to second on a throwing error. Walks to Samad Taylor and Austin Martin eventually loaded the bases with two outs for Groshans, who perfectly placed a pop up in shallow right center field to score all three runs.

Ryan Fitzgerald hit a ninth inning homer off Jon Harris (S, 1) to make it 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth.

Johnny Barbato recorded one of New Hampshire's best starts of the season, holding the Sea Dogs to one unearned run in seven innings on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Brody Rodning (W, 1-3) inherited three runners with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth, and managed to strike out top Red Sox prospect Triston Casas and league RBI leader Meneses to keep the score tied 1-1.

The Fisher Cats and Sea Dogs wrap up the series at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. The next Fisher Cats home game at Delta Dental Stadium is Tuesday, June 15 against the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies). All games this season will be broadcast live on the Fisher Cats flagship station, AM610 WGIR. For media requests, please email Tyler Murray at [email protected].