Robert Ray scattered five singles and registered a team season-high 10 strikeouts in pitching a complete-game shutout as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats blanked the New Britain Rock Cats, 6-0, last night before 5,247 fans at New Britain Stadium.
It was Ray's second complete-game in three Eastern League starts, and the first shutout recorded by the Fisher Cats this season.
Ray (3-0) becomes the first Fisher Cats pitcher to ever win his first three Eastern League starts and records the first nine-inning complete game for a New Hampshire starter since Kurt Isenberg on May 8, 2007. The right-hander did not walk a batter and struck out five of the last six batters he faced.
New Hampshire (29-46) blew open a 1-0 game by scoring five runs in the top of the eighth inning against reliever Jason Miller. Aaron Mathews (3-for-5, triple, two RBIs) lined a two-run single, scoring Ryan Klosterman (2-for-4, double) and Scott Campbell (double, two runs scored). J.P Arencibia (3-for-4, two RBIs added an RBI single, and Kyle Phillips (double, two RBI's) belted a two-run double to the wall in center field.
The Fisher Cats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against losing pitcher Jeff Manship. Campbell led off the game with a double and scored when Arencibia lined an opposite-field single.
Manship (0-2) allowed one run on five hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out five and did not allow a walk.
New Britain (33-42) has managed only 10 singles in losing the first two games of this four-game series.
New Hampshire and New Britain play the third game of their four-game series tonight at 6:35. The Fisher Cats send left-hander Brett Cecil (2-1, 3.59) to the mound against Rock Cats left-hander Ryan Mullins (6-5, 3.47).
Swamp Bats fall
Torrington starting pitcher Josh Smith went eight innings, yielding five hits, one run, and one walk to go along side his 12 strikeouts in the Twisters' 3-1 win over the Keene Swamp Bats last night in Keene.
Keene starter James Wise of Washington State University, allowed two solo home runs in the third inning by right fielder Jonathan Cluff and second baseman Corey Shimada. Torrington took a 2-0 lead in the third that they never looked back on.
Wise allowed one more run going seven innings while scattering seven hits on one walk and two strikeouts. Wise falls to 3-1 on the season with the loss.
Keene's lone run came in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Josh Chester scoring Paul Karmas.
