Masse marks 500th career victory

Manager Bill Masse recorded his 500th career win as visiting New Hampshire held off New Britain, 8-7, on Monday.

Masse spent two years with the Montreal Expos organization as a manager and five with the New York Yankees before joining the Toronto Blue Jays this year.

Sergio Santos led the way for the Fisher Cats (35-31), sandwiching an RBI single in the fifth inning between run-scoring doubles in the fourth and seventh. Rob Cosby belted a two-run homer, his sixth, in the fifth and Robinzon Diaz went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI.

New Hampshire starter Jesse Litsch (7-2) allowed three runs on six hits while striking out four and walking two over 6 1/3 innings. Jean Machi yielded an unearned run on two hits in one frame and Jesse Carlson retired two in the eighth.

Matt Roney, the third reliever used in the ninth, struck out two and walked one to notch his first save.

The Rock Cats (31-33) scored three times in the bottom of the ninth and came within one run before losing their seventh consecutive game. With the bases loaded and no one out, Brock Peterson and Garrett Guzman delivered RBI singles off Tracy Thorpe and Luke Hughes greeted Roney with a sacrifice fly.

Guzman finished with three hits, including a solo shot, his seventh, in the sixth. Trevor Plouffe went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

New Britain starter Brad Baker (2-5) surrendered five runs on seven hits in five innings, striking out five and walking one.