MacDonald Leads Fisher Cats to Third Straight

New Britain, CT- Mike MacDonald allowed two runs –one earned- over seven strong innings, and Erik Kratz went 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats knocked off the New Britain Rock Cats, 4-2, Saturday afternoon at New Britain Stadium.

For the first time all season, New Hampshire (4-2) scored in the first inning when Wayne Lydon (1-for-4, 2B, R) doubled down the right field line, advanced to third base on Manny Mayorson’s ground out and scored on a Sergio Santos ground out.

The Fisher Cats increased their lead to 3-0 in the top of the second inning against right-hander Jesse Floyd (1-1) when Aaron Mathews (1-for-3, R) walked and scored on Kratz’s double into the right-centerfield gap. David Smith (1-for-3, 2 RBI) drove in Kratz with a line-drive single to center.

MacDonald (2-0) scattered 11 hits and allowed two runs –one earned-over seven innings for the victory. New Britain (2-4) had at least one hit in every inning against McDonald but only scored on a Brandon Roberts’ (3-for-4, RBI) infield single that scored Luke Hughes in the third inning and a Mayorson throwing error in the seventh that allowed Hughes (1-for-4, 2 R) to score from third base.

Tracy Thorpe and Lee Gronkiewicz each pitched a perfect inning of relief, with Gronkiewicz striking out two of the three batters he faced to earn his third save of the season.

The Fisher Cats scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Ryan Klosterman led off with a double against Tim Lahey, stole third base and scored on Smith’s fielder’s choice ground out.

New Hampshire aims for its fourth straight win and a three-game sweep of New Britain Sunday afternoon at 1:35pm. Right-hander Kyle Yates (0-0, 9.00) pitches against Rock Cats’ left-hander Brian Duensing (0-0, 0.00).