It's taken half the season, but the New Hampshire Fisher Cats may have found a solid 1-2 punch for the starting rotation.
Right-hander Robert Ray tossed seven innings of one-run ball to lead the Fisher Cats over Connecticut, 6-1, in front of 5,173 fans at Merchantsauto.com Stadium last night.
Ray (2-0) scattered 10 hits and made all the big pitches when needed, and Kyle Phillips boosted the offense with a pair of solo homers.
The 24-year-old Ray was promoted to Double-A last week after going 5-3 with a 4.20 ERA at Dunedin. In his first outing for the Fisher Cats, the Texan tossed a seven-inning complete game, allowing one run, against Erie.
"I'm happy to be here," Ray said. "It was a little more of a battle tonight, no doubt, but we had (two) double plays and that was a big help. The defense played great."
Tonight the Fisher Cats send their ace, Brett Cecil (1-1, 3.86 ERA) to face the Portland Sea Dogs. Cecil hasn't lost in nine straight outings.
A three-run third inning gave the Fishers all the run support they would need. Anthony Hatch ignited the rally with a single, and Chris Gutierrez, Aaron Mathews and Travis Snider all doubled.
In the sixth, Phillips cranked his third homer of the year over the fence in right field, giving New Hampshire a 4-1 advantage. It was a rare shot off Connecticut's Adam Cowart, who hadn't allowed a homer in 122-2/3 innings stretching back to last July.
Phillips, the first baseman, crushed another solo homer in the eighth, a no-doubter against reliever Kelvin Pichardo. Phillips, also a catcher, won't see as much time behind the plate now that Toronto prospect J.P Arencibia has joined the team. However, the lefty slugger is not a forgotten man.
"He's not a forgotten man at all. He has value at different positions," NH manager Gary Cathcart said.
Phillips had three hits, and Travis Snider went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.
Former Keene Swamp Bat Jake Wald ended the game with a slow roller to second baseman Scott Campbell, and the Fisher Cats won the series against the Defenders.
The Sea Dogs arrive for a three-game series beginning tonight at 7. They'll send to the mound lefty Dave Gassner (0-1, 6.00 ERA) on Seat Cushion Night at the Merch.
