Burns Has Two Hits In 9-2 Loss
MANCHESTER, NH- Andy Burns continued his hot hitting in August by going 2-for-4 with an RBI single, but the Fisher Cats fell to Portland 9-2 before 4,876 on Tuesday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.
Burns, who has hits in 16 of his last 18 starts, singled in the third inning, one of only two hits the Fisher Cats managed against Portland's Henry Owens. In the eighth, with Jack Murphy and Amadeo Zazueta on base with singles, Burns drilled a base hit to right field for New Hampshire's first run. Kevin Nolan followed with an RBI single.
Owens (3-0), the 36th overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Red Sox, worked the first 6.2 innings. He allowed two hits, both singles, walked one and struck out six. Owens retired the final 12 batters he faced.
Portland (66-69) scored all of the runs they would need in the early innings, chasing Fisher Cats starter Marcus Stroman. In the top of the second inning, Matt Spring singled and Deven Marrero walked. The runners moved up on a passed ball and both scored on an infield single and error by Shannon Wilkerson.
The Sea Dogs extended the lead in the top of the third inning. J.C. Linares singled and Michael Almanzar doubled, both scoring on a double by Matt Spring. Derrik Gibson added an RBI single to make it 5-0.
Portland scored unearned runs in the fifth and seventh innings. Marrero walked and scored on a groundout by Derek Gibson in the fifth. Wilkerson doubled, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on a groundout by Christian Vazquez in the top of the eighth for a 7-0 lead.
Wilkerson (3-for-5, 3 RBI) tripled home Ryan Dent (single) and Gibson (double) in the top of the ninth inning for the Sea Dogs.
Stroman (8-5) saw his two-game win streak snapped, working three innings and allowing five runs (four earned) for the Fisher Cats (66-69).
The final home series of the season continues on Wednesday night at 6:35PM. An Atlas Fireworks Show follows the contest. Tickets are available by visiting www.nhfishercats.com, stopping by the box office at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, or by calling (603) 641-2005.
RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (3-4, 2.11) will start for the Fisher Cats against Portland RHP Matt Barnes (5-10, 4.33). You can follow the game starting at 6:15pm with Tom Gauthier and Bob Lipman on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and at www.nhfishercats.com.