Photo courtesy @kramerj7

Rock Cats 4, Senators 0

New Britain plated three runs in the first inning and never looked back as the Senators were shutout for the first time all season in the 4-0 loss.

Harrisburg starter Brian Broderick settled down after the first frame and surrendered only a solo home run to Daniel Ortiz the rest of the way. Reliever Matt Swynenberg continued to impress out of the bullpen as he tossed a scoreless inning inducing three groundball outs.

The Senators’ offense went quietly against New Britain starter Logan Darnell as they scratched out only six hits on the night. They had an opportunity in the top of the second to respond to New Britain’s early lead, but Sean Nicol grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. After that, the Senators got a baserunner to second base only twice more and one of them was when Destin Hood advanced in the last inning on defensive indifference.

Player of the Game: Destin Hood

From the Windup

• The ballgame took only two hours and one minute which Senators’ broadcaster Terry Byrom said was “the fastest 9-inn game I can remember in a long time.” Last year’s fastest was four minutes more against Reading in late May.

• Former Senator Aaron Thompson (’09-’10) threw the final two innings for New Britain to preserve the shutout.

• Harrisburg’s 4-5-6 hitters accounted for their only hits as they collectively went 6-for-12, while the rest of the team was hitless in 20 at-bats.