MANCHESTER, N.H. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats got some late heroics on Thursday night and they did on Friday as well. However, that wouldn’t be enough this time, falling to the visiting Hartford Yard Goats, 4-2.
For the first time in over a week, New Hampshire did not score first, as Bret Boswell’s third-inning double provided the ‘Goats with their first run. Boswell came home on Colton Welker’s single later in the inning, but a pair of subsequent strikeouts by New Hampshire’s Andrew Sopko allowed the Fisher Cats to escape without any further damage.
There the score stood until the eighth, when New Hampshire’s first four batters reached safely, putting three runs on the board.
Like Hartford’s rally, New Hampshire might have put up even more runs if not for a pair of strikeouts, Kacy Clemens seeing his night cut by umpire Takahito Matsuda following his swing and miss.
The ‘Goats took back the lead, with Scott Burcham’s double adding another pair of runs in the ninth. That was ultimately that was all the Colorado Rockies’ affiliate needed, as reliever Ben Bowden retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to earn his fourth save of the year.
Sopko’s seven-inning gem went for naught, as Ty Tice (0-2) got the loss after his appearance for New Hampshire in the ninth.
Logan Cozart (1-0) obtained the win for Hartford for his work in the eighth, with Yard Goats starting pitcher Ashton Goudeau giving up just two hits and a walk over his five-inning day.
Both teams combined for just 11 hits, with Boswell finishing 3-for-5 on the day. Santiago Espinal ended with a 2-for-4 day for New Hampshire while Forrest Wall added a pair of RBI for the Fisher Cats.
The series concludes on Saturday with Patrick Murphy (0-2, 4.20 ERA) taking the mound for New Hampshire against Hartford lefty Jack Wynkoop (0-3, 3.94 ERA)