TRENTON, NJ - One game removed from being blanked for the first time this season, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) returned the favor Sunday afternoon in a 4-0 shutout win over the Trenton Thunder (Yankees) at ARM & HAMMER Park.

New Hampshire ended its scoreless streak at 13 innings with two runs in the third. 'Cats newcomer Eduard Pinto launched his first Fisher Cats dinger over the wall in left field to start the frame and make it 1-0 NH. Two out singles from Harold Ramirez and Connor Panas later in the stanza set up an RBI double from Max Pentecost that put the Fisher Cats up 2-0.

As it turned out, 'Cats starter T.J. Zeuch (W, 6-3) would only need one of those runs. The 2018 Eastern League All-Star went seven strong and scattered five hits while walking two and striking out four in what was his eighth quality start in 11 outings.

A run in the fourth and a run in the eighth - the latter of which came home on a perfectly executed safety squeeze/bunt single by Gunnar Heidt - padded New Hampshire's advantage.

Leading 4-0, the Fisher Cats sent Kirby Snead and Andrew Case to the mound in the eighth and ninth, respectively. Bother relievers allowed a lead-off baserunner but retired the next three they faced to preserve the shutout and confirm a 4-0 New Hampshire triumph.

Pentecost led the way on offense with his first three-hit performance of the season. Panas, Pinto and Heidt all logged two hits as well.

With the win, New Hampshire (47-33) regains a 1.5 game lead on Trenton (46-35) in the Eastern Division standings.

The series continues tomorrow night at ARM & HAMMER Park.

►  MORE 2018 Fisher Cats Coverage.


Posted 7/1/18