Fisher Cats 7, Patriots 4

MANCHESTER – First baseman Jorge Burgos’s second grand slam of the season lifted New Hampshire (12-10, 46-43) to a 7-4 win over the Somerset Patriots (8-14, 45-46) on Wednesday night at Delta Dental Stadium. After solo homers by Arjun Nimmala and Carter Cunningham, Burgos broke open a 3-3 tie game with his seventh homer of the season in the bottom of the eighth.

Box Score

New Hampshire’s Yondrei Rojas (W, 4-3) earned the win with the final four outs, including the final out in the top of the eighth with the two potential go-ahead runs on base. New Hampshire pitchers held Somerset to 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners on-base.

Top Takeaways

• Fisher Cats snap two-game skid with Wednesday win, 1-1/2 games out of first in second-half standings.

• Arjun Nimmala, Carter Cunningham belt solo homers, Jorge Burgos belts his second grand slam.

• Nimmala doubles, Nick Goodwin triples as five of Cats’ 10 hits are good for extra-bases.

• Fisher Cats, Patriots to play two on Thursday to make up Tuesday’s postponement.

Locked in a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the eighth, the Fisher Cats mounted a rally. Following a strikeout, center fielder Victor Arias was hit by a pitch. Second baseman Nick Goodwin and third baseman Dub Gleed worked consecutive walks to load the bases. The next batter, Burgos (7), demolished a go-ahead grand slam. The Patriots plated a run in the ninth, but the Cats secured a 7-4 win with a flyout.

New Hampshire struck first in the Wednesday opener. With one out, Nimmala ripped a double. One hitter later, designated hitter Eddie Micheletti Jr. laced an RBI knock and gave the Cats a 1-0 lead.

Somerset tied it in the top of the second on a solo blast from DJ Gladney (16). In the third, catcher Manny Palencia singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Following back-to-back outs, right fielder Jace Avina cracked an RBI single which made it 3-1.

The Fisher Cats blasted their way back into the game. In the bottom of the third, Nimmala (3) slugged a one-out homer. In the seventh, Cunningham (4) did the same and tied the game at three.

New Hampshire and Somerset continue their series on Thursday with a doubleheader beginning at 12:05 PM. In game one, right-hander Chris McElvain (3-5, 6.82 ERA) will start for the Fisher Cats against Patriots lefty Xavier Rivas (4-4, 4.20 ERA). In the second contest, New Hampshire gives the ball to Gage Stanifer (3-6, 4.33 ERA) and Somerset will counter with Jack Cebert (2-3, 5.31 ERA). Coverage begins at 11:45 a.m on Bally Live, MiLB.tv, and the Fisher Cats Radio Network.