NEW BRITAIN -- Stan Cliburn's 300th victory as manager of the Rock Cats didn't come easily. It took 11 innings, good defense and some fine pitching from starter Colby Miller.

 

In the end, catcher Gabby Torres drove in the winning run on a fielder's choice to lift the Rock Cats to a 1-0 victory over the Harrisburg Senators Friday in front of 5,932 at New Britain Stadium.

 

Torres, who entered the game in the 11th, hit a shot back to the mound that hit reliever Saul Rivera in the leg with the bases loaded. Rivera recovered and threw home, but not before Selwyn Langaigne scored the winning run.

 

The victory snapped a five-game losing streak and was a milestone for Cliburn, who is 300-270 in his fifth season as Rock Cats manager. Appropriately enough it happened on a fireworks night.

 

"I always think Friday nights are special here," Cliburn said. "Tonight is no exception. What a great ballgame. Total team effort, and it was good to get 300. That's a tribute to the Twins organization, my coaching staff and especially the players."

 

In the 11th, Langaigne, who was 3-for-5, led off with a single off Rivera. Danny Matienzo singled to right and Doug Deeds sacrificed the runners to second and third. Matt Scanlon then was intentionally walked, bringing up Torres.

 

Miller held the Senators to four hits and had three strikeouts and one intentional walk in seven innings. He retired 10 in a row through the middle innings.

 

Miller pitched six perfect innings in his first appearance against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats last week.

 

Miller pitched out of a few jams and helped himself with a couple of pickoffs. He picked off Brandon Watson at second in the first.

 

In the seventh, Miller picked off Craig Kuzmic at first after a two-out single.

 

"He was outstanding," Cliburn said. "He was as good as I've seen him. Everything was down in the zone."

 

Senators starter Kip Bouknight held the Rock Cats to five hits, struck out three and walked one in seven innings.

 

Rock Cats lefthander John Thomas pitched 2 1/3 innings with one walk and one strikeout to earn the win.

 

The Rock Cats had a chance to win in the 10th. Former Rock Cats pitcher Saul Rivera was on the mound when Bryan Kennedy reached on an error by second baseman Edgar Gonzalez. Kennedy stole second. But after James Tomlin walked with two outs, Maza struck out.

 

April 16, 2005