Patriots 3, Fisher Cats 2
- Updated: April 22, 2023
BRIDGEWATER, N.J — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, had their ninth-inning rally fall short against the Somerset Patriots on Friday night, falling to the defending Eastern League champions 3-2 at TD Bank Ballpark.
Orelvis Martinez kicked off the scoring for New Hampshire in the first with an RBI single off Somerset starter Clayton Beeter (2-1), bringing home Damiano Palmegiani.
In the fifth, Trey Sweeney singled in a run and Yankee rehabber Harrison Bader doubled in a run in the fifth off New Hampshire starter Jimmy Robbins (1-2) to give the Patriots the lead for good.
Trailing by two in the ninth, New Hampshire (7-6) threatened with a potential game-changing rally. Palmegiani drew a bases loaded walk to bring home Miguel Hiraldo and make it a one-run game. It was the third walk drawn by Palmegiani on the night and the fourth time he reached on base.
Martinez had a chance to tie or take the lead for the Fisher Cats with two outs but he struck out swinging to end the game.
Kekai Rios collected a team-high three hits on the night in the nine spot for the Fisher Cats. It was Rios’s first three-hit game and it doubled his hit total on the season (6).
Hiraldo reached base three times and picked up two hits, his first multi-hit game of the season.
Former Blue Jay and Somerset (7-6) reliever Justin Maese sat down all seven batters faced in relief and struck out five.
The Fisher Cats continue their road trip Saturday night against Somerset at 6:05 p.m. RHP Adam Kloffenstein (0-1, 6.43 ERA) will get the start for New Hampshire against RHP Gray Fenter (1-0, 1.80 ERA) for the Patriots.
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