MANCHESTER, NH – The 2018 New Hampshire Fisher Cats generally have outhit their opponents. However, even when they don’t, it still seems like they’re finding ways to win on most nights.
Wednesday was one of those nights, with the Fisher Cats’ late inning heroics giving them a 5-3 win over the Portland Sea Dogs.
New Hampshire got on the board early thanks to a first inning dinger from Cavan Biggio, his 13th of the year.
Portland would slowly work their way back, eventually tying the game with runs in the third and fourth. They’d eventually take a 3-2 lead in the seventh thanks to Chad De LaGuerra’s sacrifice fly RBI, bringing Danny Mars across the plate.
The Fisher Cats responded quickly, as Connor Panas knotted the game at 3-3 with a home run in the bottom of the seventh, but New Hampshire was not done.
An inning later, Ryan Hissey led off with the ‘Cats third home run of the night, with Gunnar Heidt bringing home Bo Bichette later in the inning to ensure New Hampshire’s lead for good.
The win was New Hampshire’s fifth straight, and 24th win in the 25 games this year where they’ve led after eight innings. It also marked the first time in seven games where an opponent accumulated more hits than New Hampshire, with Portland edging out New Hampshire there, 10-7.
Justin Dillion left his first Fisher Cats start without a decision, allowing eight hits and a walk over six innings of work, striking out four.
The win instead would go to Kirby Snead (2-1), holding the Sea Dogs to just two baserunners over the eighth and ninth.
Excluding his blown save on Saturday against Hartford, Snead has now held opponents scoreless in every appearance as a Fisher Cat since joining the team earlier this month.
Portland starting pitcher Mike Shawaryn also went six innings and received a no decision, with the loss going to Austin Maddox.
Maddox (0-1) also allowed two home runs in his last appearance on May 26 for Pawtucket, lasting only four outs against Triple-A foe Lehigh Valley.
DeLaGuerra, Jantzen Witte and Austin Rei each collected two hits for the Sea Dogs while Pana and Aledmys Diaz led had two hits apiece for New Hampshire.
The Fisher Cats wrap up their homestand on Thursday with an 11:35 a.m. contest against the Sea Dogs. Jon Harris (3-3, 5.94 ERA) will represent New Hampshire against southpaw Dedgar Jimenez (1-3, 5.23 ERA).