Photo courtesy Marshall Kelner

Fisher Cats 4, Senators 1

After being stymied by Senators starter Blake Treinen for seven innings, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats jumped on the bullpen for four runs as they took the middle contest of the three-game series 4-1. The Senators lone run of the game came in the first inning when Steven Souza connected on an opposite field home run.

* Treinen struggled with his control in the first two innings as he tossed 46 pitches, but the right hander settled down and only threw 52 more over the next five for seven scoreless innings. “I thought he got stronger as the game went which I thought was a good sign,” manager Matt LeCroy said, “Early on he couldn’t throw it over the plate. He was bouncing balls and throwing way in and up, but then he just settled in and let that ball run for him and he got a lot of ground balls.”

* LeCroy and pitching coach Paul Menhart both had the same message for everyone in the bullpen not named Aaron Barrett. “Some guys need to step up and find ways to get it done,” LeCroy said and Menhart commented, “Spots are open if anyone wants to jump up. We’re giving guys opportunities. It’s open tryouts right now.”

* Menhart on Ryan Perry who has struggled in his two appearances back with the Senators, “I think he’s trying to resurrect himself. He’s trying to get back to where he was with Detroit. Throwing hard and balls jumping. We’re working on a daily basis to try and get him back to that. It looked like he was still fighting himself a little bit. His head is clearing out of the way and he doesn’t look comfortable at all.”

* Of particular note amongst the relievers is Matt Swynenberg who has struggled his last five outings as he’s allowed eight runs in 6.2 innings on seven hits and six walks. “It’s just a matter of him not getting swings and misses on his change-up like he was before. That was a pitch that guys weren’t necessarily recognizing. His fastball command all year hasn’t been great and when you combine those two things he’s had a rough go of it lately.”

* Saturday night’s game was only the second the Senators have lost all season when entering the seventh inning with a lead.

* Erie blew a 5-1 lead in the 9th inning and eventually lost to the B-Mets in extras thus preserving the Senators one-game lead in first place.