Fisher Cats 5, Defenders 2

NORWICH, Conn. – Nick Gorneault went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a two-run double, helping the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to a 5-2 victory over the Connecticut Defenders on Tuesday night. The Fisher Cats have won five of their last six games to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

The Fisher Cats broke open a 2-2 tie in the top of the eighth inning against reliever Dan Griffin. After Bryan Kervin led off with a single, Todd Donovan walked, Darin Mastroianni sacrificed the runners and Gorneault doubled to left, scoring both runners for a 4-2 lead.

Andrew Liebel (1-0), who was promoted from Advanced-A Dunedin of the Florida State League earlier in the day, was even better. The righty surrendered two runs on five hits in eight commanding innings, notching five strikeouts in the victory.

Danny Farquhar worked the ninth for his 14th save, getting a double play to end the game when Brett Pill hit a deep drive to left that appeared destined to leave the park until Gorneault leaped, reached over the fence and hauled it in. Brad Boyer, who had walked, was doubled off first to end it.