‘Cats finish Portland series with a win

Vinny Capra (credit – Andrew Sylvia)

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Portland Sea Dogs don’t return to New Hampshire until next season, leaving the Granite State on Sunday with a 10-1 defeat against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Despite a pair of leadoff hits in the first for New Hampshire, it was Portland’s Brett Netzer who broke the ice first thanks to a solo home run to right center in the fourth.

New Hampshire took another three hits in their half of the fourth, but could not make their way onto the scoreboard until the fifth.

There, Vinny Capra sparked things with a leadoff single and a steal, setting the stage for a four-run rally that would chase Portland starter Matthew Kent.

Logan Warmoth’s double to right center brought in another two runs in the seventh to pad New Hampshire’s lead.

Riley Adams brought home three more off a home run to left in the eighth, with a Chad Spanberger single adding New Hampshire’s tenth run.

Kent was the loser (5-6), allowing ten hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings of work.The win went to Thomas Hatch (1-3), following his three-hit, six-inning performance.

At the plate, every Fisher Cat except for Josh Palacios had at least one hit. Christian Williams had three while Capra, Adams, Kevin Smith, Cullen Large, Nash Knight, and Chad Spanberger had two each.  Smith also drove in three runs off his double to left in the fifth.

The Fisher Cats now head to Trenton, New Jersey for the last time this season for a series with the Trenton Thunder.

Trevor Stephen (2-4, 5.74 ERA) takes the mound for Trenton at 7 p.m. against New Hampshire’s Joey Murray (1-2, 3.96 ERA)