MANCHESTER – First baseman Jorge Burgos and center fielder Victor Arias tallied multi-hit games, but the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (23-20) fell via a walk-off against the Somerset Patriots (24-22) in Tuesday’s matchup at TD Bank Ballpark, 8-7. Right fielder Jay Harry reached 20 RBIs in May on a two-run double in the eighth inning.

In what’s their ninth loss in their last 11 games, the Fisher Cats have fallen out of first place for the first time since April 15. New Hampshire held the lead through eight innings in their last two losses; The Cats were formerly 12-0 in that scenario.

Box Score

New Hampshire starter Chris McElvain completed five innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Relievers Aaron Munson and Kelena Sauer combined to throw three innings in the loss. RHP Yondrei Rojas (L, 0-1) allowed four hits and two earned runs in two thirds of an inning and was handed his first loss of his season.

Somerset starter Ben Hess struck out five batters in two innings but allowed three unearned runs. Reliever Trent Sellers twirled five innings of one-run ball and held New Hampshire’s offense in check. RHP Harrison Cohen (W, 1-0) faced the minimum in the ninth and recorded the win.

Trailing 7-5 in the later innings, Somerset stormed back to beat the Fisher Cats. In the bottom of the eighth, second baseman Santiago Gomez cracked an RBI double which made it a one-run game. In the ninth, RBI singles from third baseman Coby Morales and catcher Manuel Palencia secured an 8-7 win for the Patriots.

New Hampshire struck first in the opener. With two outs in the second, Arias doubled. Catcher Aaron Parker reached on an error and the Cats were threating. With runners at the corners, the Fisher Cats pulled off a double steal which made it 1-0. Four pitches later, Burgos (2) laced a two-run home run and extended the lead to 3-0.

Somerset answered in the bottom of the second. Center fielder DJ Gladney (5) crushed a solo blast and cut the Patriots deficit to two.

The Fisher Cats added a run in the top of the third. With runners at the corners, third baseman Sean Keys bounced into a fielder’s choice which made it 4-1.

The Patriots chipped away at their deficit in the bottom of the fourth. Morales (10) slugged a solo home run. The next hitter, Gladney, singled and stole second. Three batters later, Abrahan Gutierrez ripped an RBI single and made it a one-run game.

In the seventh, Gladney (6) mashed a go-ahead two-run home run and put Somerset ahead, 5-4.

New Hampshire wasted no time and retook the lead in the eighth. Following singles from Keys and designated hitter Eddie Micheletti Jr., Arias tied the game with a single to center. Three batters later, Harry roped a two-run double and put the Cats ahead.

New Hampshire and Somerset continue the series at TD Bank Ballpark on Wednesday, May 26, with an 11:05 AM first pitch. Fisher Cats RHP Gage Stanifer (1-3, 4.86 ERA) is scheduled to start against the Patriots righty Cade Smith (2-2, 5.87 ERA). Coverage begins at 10:45 AM on the Fisher Cats Radio Network.