Perez, Fisher Cats handle Curve

MANCHESTER – Pitching prospect Hector Perez  allowed nothing other than a solo home run to lead the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays Double-A affiliate) to a 2-1 win over the Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates) on Wednesday night at Delta Dental Stadium.

Perez (W, 3-2) scattered five hits over six innings with five strikeouts and three walks. Jerrick Suiter took him deep to left center in the sixth inning, but the solo blast would be Altoona’s only run of the ballgame.

In two wins over Altoona (22-22) this week, the Fisher Cats (21-22) have allowed one run on eight hits.

New Hampshire’s offense came through in the bottom of the fifth. Chad Spanberger broke the scoreless tie with his fourth homer of the season, a 397-foot solo shot to right field. Vinny Capra  then reached on a single, and scored from first on a double from Forrest Wall to make it 2-0.

After the six quality innings from Perez, the Fisher Cats bullpen went to work.

Danny Young  (H, 1) recorded the first two outs of the seventh, and Ty Tice  (H, 1) went 1.1 innings to bridge the gap to Bryan Baker  (S, 3), who set Altoona down in order in the ninth.

Eight Fisher Cats recorded one hit on Wednesday, and thanks to an Alberto Mineo walk in the eighth inning, every batter reached base.

The series with Altoona concludes with an 11:35 a.m. game on Thursday. RHP Patrick Murphy  (2-4, 3.35 ERA) is due to start for the Fisher Cats against Curve RHP Scooter Hightower (2-4, 5.63 ERA).