PORTLAND, MAINE – A go-ahead home run from Aaron Parker and another quality start from Chris McElvain spotlighted the New Hampshire Fisher Cats’ 3-2 win against the Portland Sea Dogs on Tuesday from Hadlock Field. It is the first time McElvain has tossed a quality start in consecutive outings in his career.
New Hampshire (16-10) starter McElvain twirled his second-straight quality start against Portland (13-15). The righty tossed six innings and allowed one run in Tuesday’s contest behind four strikeouts and did not allow a walk. RHP Conor Larkin (SV, 4) secured the final three outs and a series opening win. Larkin’s four saves have all come consecutively, dating back to April 23.
Sea Dogs starter Gage Ziehl struck out seven batters in 4-1/3 innings. He was tagged for two earned runs on seven hits in a no-decision. Reliever Cooper Adams (L, 3-2) suffered the loss after allowing a go-ahead home run to Parker in the ninth.
Tonight’s top takeaways:
- Aaron Parker’s ninth-inning home run was New Hampshire’s first go-ahead homer in the seventh-inning or later this season.
- Conor Larkin’s four saves have all come consecutively (April 23-Present).
- Shortstop Arjun Nimmala (MLB No. 67, TOR No. 3, MLB Pipeline) singles in debut
- Righty Chris McElvain posted first back-to-back stretch of quality starts in his career
- Fisher Cats pitching holds Portland 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position
The Fisher Cats struck first in the opener. With two outs, Jace Bohrofen (8) slugged a solo home run and pushed New Hampshire out in front, 1-0.
In the fourth, Cats’ third baseman Sean Keys singled and stole second base. Following back-to-back strikeouts, second baseman Cutter Coffey laced an RBI double and extended New Hampshire’s lead to two.
Portland scratched across their first run in the fourth. Following a strikeout, designated hitter Nate Baez (3) mashed a solo home run and cut the Sea Dogs’ deficit to one.
In the bottom of the seventh, Portland catcher Johanfran Garcia (4) clobbered a game-tying blast, evening the score at 2-2. Locked in a 2-2 in the top of the ninth, Parker (2) walloped a go-ahead solo home run which gave New Hampshire the decisive 3-2 lead.