Norwich - It might not mean the same as hitting a home run off of Daisuke Matsuzaka or getting two hits off of John Smoltz, but it still means something to Todd Donovan.

The 31-year-old East Lyme product has been toiling in the minor leagues for most of his adult life, and accomplished both of those feats this season.

On Tuesday night at Dodd Stadium, Donovan hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, walked and scored during a three-run eighth-inning rally and added a single in the ninth to lead the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to a 5-2 win over the Connecticut Defenders before 2,131.

Still, he doesn't have much hope for a September call-up.

"I'd have to be on a team right now in a playoff race that would need someone off the bench to run and play defense," said Donovan, who has battled injuries most of his career.

"I'm just happy I stayed as healthy as I have this year."

Donovan entered Tuesday with a .255 batting average, three home runs and 21 RBI, along with 34 stolen bases.

"I don't think this is the last year, unless a team doesn't call, which is out of my control," he said.

Donovan said he'll push winter ball harder than he has in the past in the hopes of signing for another year.

"A lot of these guys are playing to get to the big leagues and playing to learn how to struggle," Donovan said. "The bus rides, being away from your family and friends, I'm not doing that. It's not about development for me.

"It's a job for all of us, but for me it's a livelihood. Sometimes I have to look at myself in the mirror and ask if all the scrutiny I get about still being in Double-A and doing something I love is worth it. Obviously, the answer's been yes. But baseball's a funny game. The second you try and figure out anything the opposite can happen."

• Connecticut's Brett Pill set a franchise record with his 101st RBI, courtesy of an RBI groundout in the fourth. He added a solo home run in the seventh and is currently at 102, breaking the old mark of 100 set by Donny Leon in 1999 whent he Norwich Navigators were the Yankees' Double-A affiliate … Connecticut starter Madison Bumgarner allowed just two runs on four hits in seven innings, but earned a no-decision. … The Defenders will host their first playoff games at Dodd Stadium since 2002 on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6:35 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. … Garrett Broshuis (4-4, 4.59 ERA) starts for the Defenders today.

o.poole@theday.com