Three-run lead slips away in Thursday defeat
READING, P.A — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, let their three-run lead slip away in a 4-3 defeat to the Reading Fightin’ Phils on Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. New Hampshire (56-63, 21-30) scored all three of its runs in the second
READING, P.A — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, let their three-run lead slip away in a 4-3 defeat to the Reading Fightin’ Phils on Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.
New Hampshire (56-63, 21-30) scored all three of its runs in the second inning. Damiano Palmegiani launched his 19th homer of the season off Reading starting right-hander Zach Haake to kick off the scoring. The Blue Jays No. 19 prospect has 71 RBI on the season, third-best in the Eastern League.
Alan Roden tacked on two more with a single up the middle, his 23rd and 24th RBI at Double-A, to make it 3-0 New Hampshire. The Blue Jays No. 7 prospect finishes the month of August with a .326 average, six homers and 16 RBI.
Reading (26-28, 54-68) cut into the lead in the fourth on a two-run homer by Ethan Wilson and evened the score in the sixth on a solo homer by Baron Radcliff, his second homer of the series.
In the seventh, the Fightin’ Phils scored the go-ahead run with two outs on a Jhailyn Ortiz RBI single to right field off right-hander Alejandro Melean (3-2). The 22-year-old Venezuelan took the loss after going three innings in relief, allowing six hits and two runs with three strikeouts.
The Fisher Cats brought the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs in the ninth after Miguel Hiraldo singled but Palmegiani struck out swinging to end the game.
Starting right-hander CJ Van Eyk made his Double-A debut on the mound. The 24-year-old threw three innings, allowing three hits, two runs and two walks with one strikeout on 47 pitches in a no-decision. The former top 10 Blue Jays prospect previously made eight rehab appearances with Class-A Dunedin and with the Florida Complex League Blue Jays. Van Eyk did not pitch last year while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The Fisher Cats continue their 12-game road trip and their six-game series against the Reading Fightin’ Phils tomorrow at 6:45 pm. RHP Chad Dallas (6-2, 4.54 ERA) will get the start for New Hampshire against LHP Matt Osterberg (1-0, 4.50 ERA) for Reading.
The final home stand of the regular season for the Fisher Cats begins on Tuesday, September 12 against the Somerset Patriots. Promotions for the week include 2000s Night Thursday, presented by NH Healthy Families and postgame Atlas Fireworks, Copa de la Diversion night Friday, Rock N’ Roll Night Saturday with a mystery bobblehead giveaway, presented by Delta Dental, and Fan Appreciation Day Sunday with Kids Run the Bases Postgame, sponsored by the N-H Liquor Commission Division of Enforcement!
Tickets are available at NHFisherCats.com, via email at [email protected], over the phone at (603) 641-2005, or in-person at the Fisher Cats box office at 1 Line Drive in Manchester.