MANCHESTER, N.H. – The offensive struggles continued for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Friday as they dropped their third straight, this loss a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Erie Sea Wolves.
Erie collected a pair of runs in the first, beginning on a throwing error by Fisher Cats pitcher Yennsy Diaz that allowed Derek Hill to score. Issac Parades provided the other first-inning run, coming across after Kody Eaves’ ground out.
Eaves’ triple drove in another run following Chace Numata’s solo homer, but Forest Wall answered in the fifth for New Hampshire. There, his line drive to left brought home Christian Williams, finally getting the Fisher Cats on the board.
Although SeaWolves starting pitcher Matt Manning couldn’t finish his masterful appearance, Wladmir Pinto and Drew Carlton kept the lead intact from the bullpen despite a one-run homer by New Hampshire’s Josh Palacios in the eighth.
Manning (10-4) scattered four hits over six innings of work, striking out ten Fisher Cats. Carlton earned his 15th save of the year for his work in the eighth and ninth.
Meanwhile Diaz (8-8) also lasted six innings, striking out a respectable seven Erie batters while giving up three earned runs off seven hits.
At the plate, Chad Spanberger led the way for New Hampshire with a 2-for-4 night while Hill provided two of Erie’s eight hits.
The two teams meet again on Saturday night at 7:05, with New Hampshire putting up Nate Pearson (0-4, 2.82 ERA) against Erie’s Joey Wenty (1-0, 1.80 ERA).