RICHMOND, VA - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) survived a late rally by the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants) to win 7-6 Saturday night at The Diamond.
RICHMOND, VA - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) survived a late rally by the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants) to win 7-6 Saturday night at The Diamond.
Leading 7-5 to start the bottom of the ninth, the first three batters reached to load the bases with no outs. On came Bryan Baker (S, 5), who induced a double play from the first man he faced then got reigning Eastern League Player of the Week Zach Houchins to line out to right field to end the game with the tying run at third.
New Hampshire led from the second pitch of the night. Forrest Wall took starter Brandon Beachy (L, 1-3) deep to right field for the first lead-off home run of the season by a Fisher Cat.
A four-run third made it 5-0. With two outs and a man on second, Santiago Espinal brought home the second run of the game with an RBI single and went to second on the throw home. Alberto Mineo followed with a run-scoring base hit before Vinny Capra delivered his second of two knocks on the night to put two men on base. Next was Brock Lundquist, who doubled to the corner in left to plate a pair.
Johneshwy Fargas hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning and two more would come across for Richmond in the fourth, but that would be the last runs they would score until the bottom of the ninth.
The 'Cats got insurance runs in the fourth and - importantly - in the top of the ninth. In the final frame of regulation, Josh Palacios doubled home what proved to be winning run.
Notable
- Nate Pearson was perfect in his two innings of work.
- Dany Jimenez (W, 10) became the first Fisher Cat to win his Double-A debut since Francisco Rios did so in April 2017. Jimenez worked two scoreless innings.
- Forrest Wall added a double to his line and finished with two hits and three runs scored.
- Nash Knight doubled home a run for his second twoout RBI in as many days.
New Hampshire goes for the sweep Sunday afternoon. RHP Yennsy Diaz (4-5, 3.92 ERA) gets the nod for the 'Cats while RHP Alfred Gutierrez (3-3, 4.58 ERA) has been tabbed for the Flying Squirrels. Coverage begins with the Fisher Cats Pregame Show and continues with first pitch at 1:05 p.m. on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network.
