Fightin Phils 5, Fisher Cats 1

By rbrown
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Updated: April 29, 2022

MANCHESTER – The Gatos Feroces de New Hampshire (9-9) fell, 5-1, to Los Luchadores de Reading (Philadelphia Phillies, 6-12) on Thursday in the third game of their six-game series. The Fisher Cats and Fightin Phils dawned their special team names and jerseys in celebration of Copa de la Diversión, a season-long Minor League Baseball event series designed to embrace the culture and values that resonate with the United States Latino communities and with the game’s Hispanic players.

New Hampshire struck first in inning number one. The team has now scored in the first frame in 11 of its 18 games. Tanner Morris singled and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Rafael Lantigua, celebrating his 24th birthday, reached on an error to advance Morris to second. Morris would then score on a Spencer Horwitz groundout.

Horwitz now has five RBIs in the Reading series, and Morris finished with two of New Hampshire’s three hits.

Gatos Feroces starter Paxton Schultz (L, 1-3) allowed three runs and four hits in 3.0 innings of work, walking two and striking out six. Schultz gave up all three runs in the second inning, with two scoring on a strikeout. Yes, a strikeout.

Catcher Phil Clarke and manager Cesar Martin both argued that the ball hit the batter and therefore should have been a dead ball. However, play continued and two Reading runs scored on the dropped third strike.

The New Hampshire defense stepped up big in the middle frames. The Gatos Feroces turned a double play to end three straight innings in the fourth, fifth and sixth. Lantigua caught a sharp line drive and doubled up a Reading runner at second base in the fourth. Orelvis Martinez made a play at third base to turn a 5-4-3 double play to end the fifth.

New Hampshire newcomer Gabriel Ponce, recently promoted from the Vancouver Canadians (Class A Advanced), shined in relief. He pitched 3.0 scoreless innings, gave up two hits, walked one and struck out three.

Two Reading solo home runs across innings eight and nine cemented the 5-1 New Hampshire loss.

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