New Hampshire Fisher Cats Roll 9-2 over Connecticut Defenders - AA, Eastern League

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Norwich, CT- Ricky Romero took a one-hit shutout to the ninth inning before Connecticut rallied for two runs, but the Fisher Cats rolled to an easy 9-2 win on Sunday afternoon at Dodd Stadium.
 
The 23-year old southpaw, Toronto's first round draft pick in 2005, worked eight innings plus four batters, allowing five hits and two runs, walking two and striking out one to improve to 5-5 on the season.
 
The Fisher Cats (37-58) would score all the runs they would need in the top of the first inning against starter and losing pitcher Ben Snyder (1-2).  Chris Gutierrez led off the game beating out an infield single.  He left the game with an injury, replaced by pinch-runner Travis Snider.  J.P. Arencibia singled to left field.  David Smith blasted a three-run homer to put New Hampshire up 3-0.  After Ryan Patterson flied out, Jacob Butler hit his 13th home run.
 
New Hampshire added three more runs off Snyder in the top of the fourth inning.  Patterson (2-for-5, RBI) singled and moved to second on a single by

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Ryan Klosterman (2-for-5).  Andrew Pinckney singled to load the bases.  Travis Snider (3-for-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI) singled to right field to drive in two runs and Eric Nielsen followed with an RBI single to put the Fisher Cats up 7-0.
 
Romero did not allow a hit until there was one out in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Olmo Rosario doubled to the wall in left-center for the only hit Connecticut would have until the ninth inning.
 
Smith, the Fisher Cats centerfielder, (3-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, 2B, BB) hit a one-out double in the seventh inning and scored on a Patterson single to make it 8-0.
 
In the top of the eighth inning, Jonathan Diaz walked and scored on a Snider double to give New Hampshire a 9-0 lead.
 
Romero was given the chance to pitch the complete game, but the Defenders (48-48) put together four straight hits to start the last of the ninth inning with runs scoring on a triple by Ryan Rohlinger and a single by Eddy Martinez-Esteve.  Jared Gothreaux came out of the bullpen to record three straight ground outs to end the game.
 
The Fisher Cats have already recorded a winning road trip, having taken four of the first six games in Portland and Norwich.  The final game of the trip will be Monday night at 6:35pm at Dodd Stadium against the Defenders.  RHP Robert Ray (3-3, 3.35) starts for New Hampshire against Connecticut RHP Adam Cowart (7-6, 4.02).    Radio coverage with Bob Lipman begins at 6:15pm on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network.
 
The 2008 Northeast Delta Dental Eastern League All-Star Game takes place at Merchantsauto.com Stadium on Wednesday, July 16 at 7:05pm.  Gates open at 3:00pm.  Fans can enjoy the New Hampshire Union Leader Autograph Session and the Irving Oil Home Run Derby prior to the game.  Following the game, there will be an Atlas Fireworks Show.  For ticket availability, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005. 
 
The Bank of America Baseball Block Party begins the All-Star festivities at Veterans Park in downtown Manchester, NH on Tuesday, July 15.  The free event runs from 6:00pm-10:00pm.  For more information, visit www.nhfishercats.com.

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