RSS
|
|
Abbott was even more impressive in the nightcap, facing the minimum number of hitters in a two-hit, 10-0 shelling of the Navigators that featured a grand slam and five RBI off the bat of Terry Tiffee. Neither pitcher issued a walk.
"It’s a game of opportunities," Rock Cats manager Stan Cliburn said. "Both of those guys went to the bullpen to start the season and things happen for a reason. When their chances came to become starters, they took it and they ran with it."
Abbott, making his first appearance for the Rock Cats (27-37), allowed singles to Mike Cervenak in the second inning and Carlos Valderrama in the seventh. Both were erased on double plays.
"Everything was working - fastball, changeup, slider," said Abbott, who moved into the Fort Myers rotation May 6. "My goal was to go out there and trust my catcher (Gabby Torres), and he called a great game. I wanted to go out and hit spots."
Tiffee’s slam - his sixth homer of the season - came off Jack Taschner (0-4) in the six-run second inning. After suffering through a 4-for-38 slump, Tiffee has five hits in his last 10 at-bats.
"I was struggling," Tiffee said. "You get in those funks over a long year where you don’t see the ball and nothing goes right for you. You just have to keep trying and get good pitches to hit. It builds your confidence and hitting is all about confidence."
Shortstop Jason Bartlett contributed three hits and three RBI to the effort.
Cliburn enjoyed his first look at Abbott, who was among the ERA leaders in the Florida State League at 2.31.
"The new kid on the block came up here and made it look easy," Cliburn said. "He had a great angle to his pitches and he’s sneaky fast. What a beautifully pitched game."
Bonilla earned his first Double-A shutout by getting 11 groundball outs, coming up with big pitches with runners in scoring position and throwing strikes.
Bartlett and second baseman Josh Renick both turned in sensational plays in Bonilla’s defense. Bartlett went to his knees on the warning track in foul territory to snag a pop fly off the bat of Jamie Athas. Renick twice closed the door on possible Norwich rallies with plays up the middle.
"I was a little bit lucky," Bonilla said. "They played great defense and the hard balls that were hit were right at somebody. I didn’t feel that good in the bullpen but (new catcher Joe Mauer) said my fastball had a little life to it and was down a lot. I had a good curveball. It was the best outing I’ve had."
Bonilla (4-2) started 10 games for manager Stan Cliburn at low-A Quad City in 2000 but all 53 of his outings in 2001 (22 saves at Quad City) and his 19 games with Fort Myers last year were all in relief. He was 1-4 with a 4.91 in 10 relief outings with the Miracle and made six appearances out of the New Britain bullpen before gaining a spot in the rotation.
His ERA in six starts is 2.43.
The Rock Cats gave Bonilla his slim working margin in the third inning. Bartlett (5-for-7 on the night) slapped a single to right to start the third inning. He took second on a sacrifice bunt by Josh Renick. With two down, Jeff Deardorff dumped an RBI hit into right field.
Walk (1-6) also yielded just six hits in his route-going effort, walking two and striking out two for the Navigators (30-36), who entered the night having swept four games from the Trenton Thunder on the road.
In his first Double-A game, Mauer went 0-for-3. He did not play in the second game.
CATS TALES: The Rock Cats won successive road games for just the second time this season. ..The Rock Cats staff, although still last in the league, has compiled a sterling 2.65 ERA over the last nine games.
