Rock Cats Complete the Weekend Sweep

New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats sent the visiting Trenton Thunder away without win for the third straight time, this time defeating the Yankees Double-A affiliate 6-2 on Father's Day at New Britain Stadium.

 

The star of the game was LHP Taylor Rogers, who spun a six-hit complete game, earned his sixth win of 2014. The southpaw kept hitters off-balance for nine innings, getting weak swings on his breaking pitches and mixing the fastball and change-up very effectively.

 

1B Kennys Vargas picked up right where he left off last night, sending RHP Bryan Mitchell's offering high over the wall in right-center, giving New Britain a 1-0 lead after four innings of play.

 

Trenton struck back in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run double from SS Ali Castillo, pushing the Thunder ahead of New Britain by a score of 2-1.

 

The home club would not let that lead last for long however, scoring four more time in the bottom half of the sixth. 2B Nate Hanson sent SS Tony Thomas home on a ground ball to short, a productive out that tied up the game at two runs a side. RF Reynaldo Rodriguez then shot a base hit out to center that scored CF Eddie Rosario, who reached safely on a double earlier in the frame. Mitchell then handed the ball over to RHP Phil Wetherell, who proceeded to give up a two-run single to LF Mike Kvasnicka, scoring both Rodriguez and 3B Brandon Waring.

 

New Britain tacked on another run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double by Waring off of LHP Aaron Dott. The extra base hit scored Rodriguez once more, who reached earlier on a single out to left, giving the Rock Cats a 6-2 lead.

 

1B Francisco Cervelli, the Yankees catcher who was finishing up his rehabilitation stint with Trenton, went 1-4 on the day before leaving in the eighth. The fourth inning single was Cervelli's only hit in the Hardware City.

 

Vargas now has home runs in back-to-back game, leading the Cats' in both home runs (12) and RBIs (51), the latter of which is good for second in the Eastern League.

 

Rogers becomes the first Rock Cats pitcher to throw a complete game this season. He demonstrated great control while working with C Kyle Knudson, allowing no walks while striking out two.

 

Trenton's Mitchell falls to 1-5 with the loss. He gave up five runs, all earned, on four hits while walking four and striking out three.

 

New Britain enjoys the off day on Monday before visiting the Harrisburg Senators for a three-game series beginning Tuesday starting at 7:00 p.m.