NEW BRITAIN -- Juan Lorenzo got under the pitch from Jeff Randazzo and sent it high and far to left field.

 

It was clear the ball would be deep enough to drive in the runner from third with the go-ahead score. But the crowd reaction wasn't what Lorenzo was used to.

 

For three seasons (2001-03), shortstop Lorenzo played for New Britain, becoming a fan favorite.

 

But Lorenzo was greeted by groans rather than cheers as he walked back to the dugout in the 11th inning Saturday in New Britain. Lorenzo was walking back to the visitors dugout after putting the Harrisburg Senators ahead.

 

"I can't lie," Lorenzo said. "It was strange. I had a lot of things on my mind out there today."

 

Lorenzo's RBI in the 11th was the difference as the Senators beat the Rock Cats 7-6 before 2,907 at New Britain Stadium.

 

"An old Rock Cat beat us," New Britain manager Stan Cliburn said. "How about that guy? Good for Juan. I'm happy for him. I'm not happy that he beat us, but I'm happy for him trying to continue to play this game because he was always a favorite of mine. He did some great things for us here and he was always a class act and a class teammate. If we're going to get beat I'd like to see an ex-Rock Cat do it and that's what happened today."

 

Lorenzo, 26, was released by the Twins organization after the 2003 season. He spent last year in the Dominican Republic, unable to get a work visa to play in the United States. The Washington Nationals signed him over the winter, and the paperwork clearing the way for his return to the Eastern League was completed. He was 0-for-2 and scored a run.

 

"It was tough [seeing Lorenzo let go by the Twins] but that's part of baseball," Cliburn said. "I told Juan when I saw him two days ago when this series started, `The best of luck to you and whatever I can do for you ... to help you in your professional career I'll do.' You've got to appreciate a kid like that that goes out there and works hard like that. Getting the game-winning RBI today, that's a tribute to his hard work and his dedication and the old manager here teaching him too well."

 

Trailing 4-2 in the eighth, the Senators scored three runs with two out to go up 5-4. Craig Kuzmic's homer in the ninth made it 6-4. But Selwyn Langaigne and Bryan Kennedy drove in runs for New Britain in the ninth to send it to extra innings. The Rock Cats had runners on first and second in the 11th before Tommy Watkins grounded to third to end it.

 

Randazzo took the loss, giving up two hits and one run in 2 1/3 innings.

 

"We had set up what we needed to do but we didn't get the clutch hit," Cliburn said. "I like the way we battled back. We could have very easily laid down and we battled back."

 

Wire report included
 
April 17, 2005