The New Hampshire Fisher Cats lost a heart-breaker to the Richmond Flying Squirrels in Game 1 of the Eastern League Finals.
Richmond 10 New Hampshire 9
Manchester, NH - The Fisher Cats scored three runs in the eighth to take a 9-8 lead but the Giants affiliate scored two in the top of the ninth to take a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-five series.
Hitting - The Fisher Cats were down 3-0 before they got the bats going in the third. Kevin Howard (2/4, 2 2B) and Yan Gomes (0/4) drew bases loaded walks, Mark Sobolewski (1/3) had an RBI ground out and Jonathan Diaz (3/4, BB) had an RBI single. Sobolewski lifted a sac fly to the Richmond second baseman in foul territory to bring home a run in the fifth and Moises Sierra (1/5) was credited with an RBI despite an error to the third baseman on a ground ball to cash home Anthony Gose (0/4, BB) in the sixth. In the eighth inning, Gose had a sac fly before Sierra went deep for a two-run homer to cap a three run rally.
Travis d'Arnaud (1/2) showed a sharp batting eye by drawing three walks, Mike McDade (1/4) drew a walk and Colby Rasmus (1/5) singled. Callix Crabbe (0/1) was the only Fisher Cat not to record a hit or a walk. New Hampshire was 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.
Running - Rasmus and d'Arnaud each stole a base. Crabbe pinch-ran for Sobolewski in the eighth and scored a run. Sierra was doubled off first after a d'Arnaud fly out to right to end the sixth inning.
Pitching - It was not a banner night for the Blue Jays 2009 and 2010 first round draft picks. Chad Jenkins was cuffed around for four runs (one HR) on nine hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings. His strikeout and groundout total were four apiece. Deck McGuire did not fare much better in relief after allowing one of Jenkins runners to cross the plate. He allowed two runs on two hits and two walks without getting anybody out. B.J. LaMura stranded both of McGuire's runners but he allowed an unearned run on two hits in 2/3 of an inning. Wes Etheridge stranded two LaMura runners but was nicked for a run on two hits. However, Etheridge got eight ground ball outs and soaked up 3 2/3 innings for manager Sal Fasano. He was in line for the win until the ninth. That's when Bobby Korecky gave up a two-run homer. He allowed two hits but struck out a batter.
Defence - LaMura was charged with a throwing error to allow a runner to reach first and Diaz received an error for interference on the same play that allowed another runner to make it to third. That led to an unearned run in the fifth. Diaz and McDade turned a 6-3 double play and d'Arnaud picked off a runner at second from behind the dish.
*** 3 Stars!!! ***
3. Wes Etheridge
2. Moises Sierra
1. Travis d'Arnaud
Richmond 10 New Hampshire 9
Manchester, NH - The Fisher Cats scored three runs in the eighth to take a 9-8 lead but the Giants affiliate scored two in the top of the ninth to take a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-five series.
Hitting - The Fisher Cats were down 3-0 before they got the bats going in the third. Kevin Howard (2/4, 2 2B) and Yan Gomes (0/4) drew bases loaded walks, Mark Sobolewski (1/3) had an RBI ground out and Jonathan Diaz (3/4, BB) had an RBI single. Sobolewski lifted a sac fly to the Richmond second baseman in foul territory to bring home a run in the fifth and Moises Sierra (1/5) was credited with an RBI despite an error to the third baseman on a ground ball to cash home Anthony Gose (0/4, BB) in the sixth. In the eighth inning, Gose had a sac fly before Sierra went deep for a two-run homer to cap a three run rally.
Travis d'Arnaud (1/2) showed a sharp batting eye by drawing three walks, Mike McDade (1/4) drew a walk and Colby Rasmus (1/5) singled. Callix Crabbe (0/1) was the only Fisher Cat not to record a hit or a walk. New Hampshire was 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.
Running - Rasmus and d'Arnaud each stole a base. Crabbe pinch-ran for Sobolewski in the eighth and scored a run. Sierra was doubled off first after a d'Arnaud fly out to right to end the sixth inning.
Pitching - It was not a banner night for the Blue Jays 2009 and 2010 first round draft picks. Chad Jenkins was cuffed around for four runs (one HR) on nine hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings. His strikeout and groundout total were four apiece. Deck McGuire did not fare much better in relief after allowing one of Jenkins runners to cross the plate. He allowed two runs on two hits and two walks without getting anybody out. B.J. LaMura stranded both of McGuire's runners but he allowed an unearned run on two hits in 2/3 of an inning. Wes Etheridge stranded two LaMura runners but was nicked for a run on two hits. However, Etheridge got eight ground ball outs and soaked up 3 2/3 innings for manager Sal Fasano. He was in line for the win until the ninth. That's when Bobby Korecky gave up a two-run homer. He allowed two hits but struck out a batter.
Defence - LaMura was charged with a throwing error to allow a runner to reach first and Diaz received an error for interference on the same play that allowed another runner to make it to third. That led to an unearned run in the fifth. Diaz and McDade turned a 6-3 double play and d'Arnaud picked off a runner at second from behind the dish.
*** 3 Stars!!! ***
3. Wes Etheridge
2. Moises Sierra
1. Travis d'Arnaud
