September 13, 2011
Minor league notebook: Fisher Cats playing for EL title
by Roger Brown/
Pitching and strong defense proved to be a recipe for success in this year's Eastern League semifinals.
New Hampshire advanced to the league championship by defeating Reading in four games. The Fisher Cats shut out Reading twice in the series.
Richmond prevailed in the other semifinal by holding Harrisburg to three runs in its three-game sweep.
New Hampshire (Toronto's Double-a affiliate) and Richmond (San Francisco) will begin a best-of-five series that will determine the league champion Tuesday night in Manchester, N.H.
New Hampshire qualified for the playoffs by winning the Eastern Division championship. Richmond earned a playoff berth as the Western Division's wildcard team.
“We've got a good bunch of guys and a solid pitching staff, which is always key in a short series,” Richmond pitcher Justin Fitzgerald told MiLB.com. “I like our team against anyone.”
The first two games in the series will be played in New Hampshire before the series shifts to Richmond for Game 3. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, will also be played at Richmond.
New Hampshire went 4-2 against Richmond during the regular season. Each team scored 24 runs in the six games. New Hampshire catcher Travis d'Arnaud, who hit .364 in the semifinals, collected six RBI against Richmond.
Chris Dominguez entered Tuesday's game as Richmond's hottest hitter. He batted .385 with two home runs and five RBI in the semifinals.
Richmond made the playoffs despite finishing last in the league in runs scored (574). New Hampshire ranked second among Eastern League teams in runs scored (676).
Not semi-tough
Pawtucket, Boston's Triple-A affiliate in the International League, had its season come to an end after Lehigh Valley completed a three-game sweep in the IL semifinals.
Lehigh Valley won the first two games in Allentown Pa., before completing the sweep Saturday at Pawtucket's McCoy Stadium.
Alex Wilson took the loss in the deciding game, despite holding Lehigh Valley to three hits in seven innings. It was his first loss in five starts with Pawtucket.
It was Pawtucket's first playoff appearance since 2008, and this season was the first time Pawtucket won the International League's North Division title since 2003.
Vermont fails to advance
The Auburn Doubledays reached the New York-Penn League's championship series by beating the Vermont Lake Monsters 7-2 Friday night in the deciding game of the best-of-three semifinal series.
Six of the seven runs Auburn scored in Game 3 were charged to Vermont starter Seth Frankoff, who had not allowed a run in his previous three starts (19 innings).
Vermont, which won the New York-Penn League's Stedler Division with a 39-35 record during the regular season, qualified for the playoffs for the third time. The Lake Monsters were swept in the 1995 and 1996 semifinals.
Auburn will face Staten Island for the New York-Penn League championship.
Brockton has rocky finish
The Brockton Rox won at least 50 games for the third consecutive season, but couldn't make it out of the Can-Am League semifinals.
Quebec completed a three game sweep by posting a 3-2 victory at Campanelli Stadium Friday night.
Brockton ended the regular season with 51-42 record.
Quebec is trying to win its third straight league championship.
