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Word arrived before the game from the parent Minnesota Twins that Anthony Swarzak, perhaps the team's best pitching prospect, was suspended 50 days for violating minor league baseball's drug policy.
The Connecticut Defenders, their offense in a deep slumber through the season's first two weeks, smelled the blood.
The Defenders used a 13-hit attack and five innings of airtight relief Friday night to erase a two-run deficit and bludgeon the Rock Cats, 7-4, before 4,582 at New Britain Stadium.
"Thirteen hits and seven runs," New Britain manager Riccardo Ingram said. "It's tough to win a ballgame when you allow that many."
Connecticut was hitting .214 as a team with just 20 runs in its first nine games but the offense got well in a hurry. Rock Cats starter Nick Blackburn gave up three singles in the first inning but avoided damage. He wasn't as fortunate in the second.
Todd Jennings was hit by a pitch with one out and scampered to third on a single by Jake Wald. Alex Requena's fielder's choice-grounder scored the run. John Bowker delivered a sharp single. Requena took third and scored on a wild pitch to give Connecticut a 2-0 lead.
A bases-loaded walk to Brandon Roberts got one back for New Britain in the home half but starter Darren Sack's real headache came in the fourth. Matt Allegra began the frame with a towering homer over the left-field wall. Sack proceeded to walk catcher Korey Feiner and uncork wild throws on successive sacrifice bunts by Roberts and Trevor Plouffe that led to two runs and a 4-2 lead for New Britain (3-5).
The Defenders put up single markers in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game. A two-base throwing error by Feiner led to the first run. Singles by Carlos Sosa, Simon Klink and Jennings off reliever Danny Powers (0-2) produced the other.
"Blackburn got in and out of some trouble but competed well enough," Ingram said. "He left with a 4-2 lead but the bullpen just didn't pick him up."
The Defenders (4-6) knocked Powers out in the seventh when Bowker hit a vicious line drive off his forearm. Jay Sawatski yielded two singles and a two-run double to Klink (2-for-4) and the Defenders led by three.
Ten of Connecticut's hits were shot up the middle.
"It's an indication that you're throwing the ball in the middle of the plate and getting behind in the count," Ingram said. "If you're behind in the count, guys tend to get better swings. If you're aggressive in the strike zone earlier and get ahead, guys don't get those aggressive swings on you."
Ingram didn't think Swarzak's suspension was responsible for the team's sluggish performance.
"We know what we have to do as professionals," he said. "We have to get our minds clear to play the game, and the game started out OK. We had a 4-2 lead and just didn't close the deal."
CATS TALES: The Rock Cats start former Defenders righthander Jesse Floyd (1-1, 6.00) against righty Chris Begg (0-0, 4.63).
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NEW BRITAIN - New Britain Rock Cats pitcher Anthony Swarzak was suspended 50 games Friday for violating Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy.
The Rock Cats reported that their parent club, the Minnesota Twins, were informed that a "drug of abuse" was discovered in Swarzak's system rather than one that enhances performance.
Swarzak, 21, was repentant before Friday night's game against the Connecticut Defenders.
"I apologize to the Twins, my family and friends for what I'm putting them through," said Swarzak, who Baseball America rates as the Twins' fifth best prospect overall and third-best minor league pitching prospect. "I'm going to try and get this stretch out of the way and do the best I can to try and better myself every day."
Swarzak intends to stay with the Rock Cats on an unpaid basis while serving the suspension.
"I'll be here with the team working out every day and when the game starts I'll be in the stands," he said. "It's definitely a good lesson in life. What I've been going through the last 24 hours is the biggest life-changing experience that I've ever had to go through.
"I've definitely learned my lesson. I'm just going to try and get back out there, get in the game and try to get this team a win."
Swarzak declined to reveal the drug that the Minor League Drug Treatment and Prevention Program discovered in his test. The program generally tests minor league players up to four times a year, but the Minor League Healthy Policy Advisory Committee can react to information received regarding a player using or possessing a prohibited substance.
Rock Cats manager Riccardo Ingram said, "I'm just saddened by it. We want him to stay here, stay in shape and continue on with his progress. It just puts a little bump in the road for him development-wise. Hopefully he gets through this and gets back on the field."
Swarzak is the second New Britain player to be suspended under the minor league program. A mandatory first-offense 15-day penalty was handed down to former first baseman Luis Jimenez on opening day 2005 for alleged use of a performance-enhancing substance.
