Manchester, NH [May 28, 2017] - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats walked off with a win for the third time this week, thanks to a solo home run from Michael De La Cruz in the bottom of the 10th inning on Sunday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. The 5-4 win over the Reading Fightin' Phils improves New Hampshire's record to 8-1 in their last nine games, and clinches the team's third consecutive series win.

With one out in the 10th, De La Cruz turned on a 2-0 pitch from John Richy (L, 1-2) and launched it over the right field fence for his first Double-A home run, a game-winner.

A back-and-forth battle in the eighth and ninth innings led to the dramatic finish in extras.

In his first Fisher Cats game of 2017, Matt Dean gave New Hampshire a 3-2 lead with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. The Fisher Cats bullpen entered the day with a 12-inning scoreless streak, but a two-out, two-run double from Angelo Mora gave Reading a 4-3 edge in the ninth.

Facing Phils closer Jesen Therrien, Jonathan Davis led off the bottom half of the ninth with a single to left, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, then scored on a two-out single by Ryan McBroom. The teams went to extras tied at 4-4.

Andrew Pullin gave Reading a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the top of the first inning, but Sean Reid-Foley settled down from there. He finished the day with season-highs in innings pitched (6.2) and strikeouts (9), allowing two runs on five hits and one walk.

The Fisher Cats threatened early, but were denied a run when Tim Lopes was thrown out on a play at the plate after a Matt Dean single in the second, and stranded the bases loaded in the fourth.

New Hampshire broke through against starter Shane Watson in the fifth to tie the game at 2-2. Jonathan Davis led off with a double to right, and Richard Urena drove him in with a two-bagger to left center. After a walk to Ryan McBroom, Harold Ramirez grounded a single to left and brought home Urena.

Alonzo Gonzalez (W, 1-3) faced one batter in the 10th, retiring Andrew Pullin on a groundout to keep the score even at 4-4.

The week-long homestand comes to a close on Monday afternoon at 1:35 p.m.

►  MORE 2017 Fisher Cats Coverage.


Posted 5/29/17