Arias’ Two Homers Lift New Hampshire to Fifth Straight Win
BOWIE, MD – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (15-17, 44-57) took down the Chesapeake Baysox (12-21, 43-57) at Prince George’s Stadium on Sunday, 9-4. Facing his former teammate and new Baysox pitcher, Juaron Watts-Brown, New Hampshire designated hitter Victor Arias belted his first career Double-A homer on the first pitch
BOWIE, MD – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (15-17, 44-57) took down the Chesapeake Baysox (12-21, 43-57) at Prince George’s Stadium on Sunday, 9-4. Facing his former teammate and new Baysox pitcher, Juaron Watts-Brown, New Hampshire designated hitter Victor Arias belted his first career Double-A homer on the first pitch of the game, and three innings later, Arias launched his second homer, a two-run blast, to help guide the Fisher Cats to their fifth straight win.
After Chesapeake tied Sunday’s game in the bottom of the second inning at 1-1, Fisher Cats left fielder Je’Von Ward had a trip around the bases of his own in the top of the third inning. First baseman Charles McAdoo worked a two-out walk to set up Ward’s triple and he came around to score on a Chesapeake fielding error, putting New Hampshire back in front, 3-1. The Fisher Cats plated three in the fourth and three in the fifth and led Sunday’s game after five innings, 9-1.
Today’s top takeaways:
DH Victor Arias launches two homers, including his first in Double-A
LF Je’Von Ward cracks first triple, records fourth multi-hit game with Fisher Cats
RHP Justin Kelly punches out two in scoreless relief outing
RHP Devereaux Harrison collects two strikeouts in Fisher Cats return
Fisher Cats bullpen keeps Baysox hitless over final 3-1/3 relief frames
New Hampshire bats pile on 10 hits with two three-run innings
Five days after being traded to Baltimore from Toronto, Watts-Brown (L, 2-3) made his first career Baysox start against his former team. The Fisher Cats tagged Watts-Brown for five earned runs on six hits in four innings of work before righty Trace Bright entered in the top of the fifth inning. Bright surrendered three runs on four hits and four walks, while striking out six in four innings of work.
It’s the first time New Hampshire has rattled off five straight wins since they won six in a row from June 1 through June 7 behind a franchise-record 40.0 scoreless innings from the Fisher Cats staff.
New Hampshire starter Ryan Watson (W, 5-8) dealt 5-2/3 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Righty Justin Kelly replaced Watson in the sixth and went on to toss 1-1/3 scoreless innings of relief with two punchouts. Chay Yeager pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth inning with two strikeouts before Devereaux Harrison entered in the bottom of the ninth. Making his first Fisher Cats appearance since June 28 in Hartford, Harrison fanned two batters and walked one in one scoreless frame of relief.
Leading 3-1 in the top of the fourth inning, New Hampshire catcher Alex Stone roped a single that allowed center fielder Dasan Brown to score from first and make it a 4-1 game. Arias followed by turning around his second home run of the game, a 410-foot two-run shot that made it 6-1.
The Fisher Cats blew the game open with a three-run top of the fifth frame, highlighted by third baseman Alex De Jesus' bases-loaded single to extend New Hampshire’s lead to 9-2.
Chesapeake plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but both teams went on to exchange three scoreless frames to finalize the score at 9-4.
New Hampshire returns to Delta Dental Stadium on Tuesday, August 5, to open a six-game series with the Reading Fightin Phils. The Fisher Cats host Country Night on Thursday, and PopStar Night (Fungo’s Version) takes center stage on Friday night. Fans are encouraged to wear red to the ballpark for Love Your Heart Night on Saturday, featuring blood pressure screenings and opportunities to learn more about heart health. The first 1,000 fans in attendance for Sunday’s game will go home with a Golden Glove Dasan Brown bobblehead, courtesy of Northeast Delta Dental.
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].