NEW BRITAIN - An adopted son came back to inflict some pain.

 

Infielder Juan Lorenzo played three seasons with the New Britain Rock Cats. His playing days came to a temporary end due to visa problems last year but he remained here after marrying a New Britain girl in 2002.

 

When the Washington Nationals needed a shortstop for their Double-A team, Lorenzo signed on the dotted line. On Saturday, he authored the Rock Cats’ demise.

 

Lorenzo launched a sacrifice fly with one out in the 11th inning to hand the Harrisburg Senators a 7-6 win before 2,907 at New Britain Stadium.

 

"A lot of things were going around in my mind when I was here playing with these guys," said Lorenzo, 26, who played in 216 games for the Rock Cats from 2001-03. "I had fun when I played here but I’m having fun playing with (Harrisburg), too."

 

Edgar Gonzalez began the decisive frame for Harrisburg (6-4) by slapping a double to left field off Rock Cats reliever Jeff Randazzo (0-1). Craig Kuzmic sacrificed him to third. After an intentional walk to Cristian Guerrero, Lorenzo delivered the game-winning RBI.

 

"I had to show (the Rock Cats) that I had talent for this game and I could do the job," Lorenzo said. "That’s what I did."

 

Winning obviously would have been Rock Cats manager Stan Cliburn’s preference but he was happy for his former protégé.

 

"I’m not happy that he beat us but I’m happy that he’s trying to continue to play this game because he was always a favorite of mine," Cliburn said. "He did some great things for us here. He was always a class act and a class teammate.

 

"If we’re going to get beat, I’d rather have a former Rock Cat do it. We beat one last night (Saul Rivera) but one got us back today."

 

The Rock Cats (3-6) threatened against Jason Norderum (1-0) in the home half. Selwyn Langaigne singled with one out. Pinch-hitter Gabby Torres’ liner to center was snagged off the grasstops by Brandon Watson. Matt Scanlon walked but Tommy Watkins grounded to third.

 

"We had it set up the way we needed it but we didn’t get the clutch hit," Cliburn said.

 

The Rock Cats have lost six of their last seven games since beginning the year with two wins.

 

Despite the outcome, Cliburn was relatively pleased with both the offense and pitching.

 

The offense banged out 14 hits. Langaigne raised his average to .526 with three hits and drove in three runs. Luis Maza, hitting .152 coming into the game, went 3-for-5 including his first homer and scored four runs.

 

"I’m pleased the way we swung the bats," Cliburn said. "It’s a start. When we get (suspended first baseman Luis) Jimenez back, we’ll be solid."

 

Starter Levale Speigner allowed two runs and struck out five in 5 2/3 innings.

 

"He was going with his breaking ball too much early," Cliburn said. "He didn’t establish his fastball and we’re big on that. Once he did, he got us into the sixth inning."

 

The pitching staff struck out 10 and yielded just four earned runs.

 

The Rock Cats led 4-2 in the eighth when a throwing error by third baseman Jake Mauer on a potential inning-ending double-play ball and a passed ball by Bryan Kennedy paved the way for a three-run Harrisburg uprising.

 

Kuzmic blasted a solo homer in the ninth to give Harrisburg a 6-4 lead.

 

An error by second baseman Gonzalez on a Maza grounder - Harrisburg’s fourth of the game - set the stage for a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth that tied the game. Maza scored on a fielder’s choice grounder by Langaigne. Kennedy delivered a single that scored pinch-runner Alex Romero with the game-tying marker.

 

CATS TALES: Although logistics make it virtually impossible to continue, the Rock Cats came into Saturday leading the EL in average attendance at 6,627. New Britain Stadium seats 6,146, considerably less than Bowie (10,000), Akron (9,097), Reading (9,000), Altoona (7,210), and Portland (6,975). Those five and Trenton (6,440) finished ahead of the Rock Cats last season. ..Lorenzo batted .235 in 101 games for the 2001 Rock Cats, who shared the EL title with the Reading Phillies.