Snider's 3-run homer helps Fisher Cats defeat Rock Cats

Associated Press

May 11, 2008 01:28 am

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MANCHESTER, N.H. — Travis Snider belted a three-run home run, and Zach Dials struck out Brock Peterson with the tying run on first base to earn his third save, giving the New Hampshire Fisher Cats a 5-3 victory over the New Britain Rock Cats before 4,323 fans at Merchantsauto.com Stadium yesterday afternoon. It was the Fisher Cats' sixth win in their last seven home games.

Right-hander Julio Pinto pitched 3.2 innings of relief to earn the victory. Pinto (2-0) allowed two runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out two.

New Hampshire (12-22) grabbed a 2-0 lead against Rock Cats' starter Yohan Pino in the bottom of the third inning when Ryan Klosterman (2-for-3, 2B, RBI, 2 R) and Scott Campbell (1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB) delivered back-to-back run-scoring doubles.

New Britain (19-15) got on the board in the top of the fourth inning against starter Brett Cecil on a solo home run by David Winfree (1-for-4, HR, RBI), his eighth of the season, and fifth off Fisher Cats' pitching.

Cecil allowed just that one run on one hit in 4.2 innings before being lifted for reaching his pitch limit. He struck out five and walked one.

Snider (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) belted a two-out, three-run home run to right-center, his third, off Pino (1-2) in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Fisher Cats a 5-1 lead.

Pino allowed five runs on six hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out two, walked one and hit a batter.

New Britain rallied for two runs on four straight hits in the top of the ninth inning. Toby Gardenhire (2-for-4, R), Felix Molina (2-for-3, R, SAC) and Drew Butera (1-for-3, BB) all singled off Pinto.

Dials entered, allowed a run-scoring single to Steve Tolleson (1-for-4, RBI, BB), induced an RBI fielder's choice ground out from Dustin Martin (1-for-5, RBI, SB) and struck out Peterson (1-for-5, 3 K) to earn his third save in four opportunities.

The Fisher Cats look to make it three straight against the Rock Cats in a Mother's Day matinee at 1:05pm. Left-hander A.J. Wideman (1-4, 7.18) takes the mound for New Hampshire against New Britain left-hander Ryan Mullins (2-2, 3.05). Radio coverage begins at 12:45pm on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network with Bob Lipman and Mike Murphy.