HARTFORD, Conn. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats lost their first home game of 2019, so it was only fitting that they lose their first road game as well.
An avalanche of early runs doomed the Fisher Cats, who fell 10-5 to the Hartford Yard Goats on Thursday evening.
Hartford scored four runs in the second and three runs in the third, chasing Fisher Cats starting pitcher Hector Perez from the contest.
Still, Hartford starting pitcher Brandon Gold didn’t fair much better early on, lasting just three and a third, with New Hampshire’s Kevin Smith taking a 1-2 pitch deep in the first, the first of five runs New Hampshire obtained off Gold before his departure.
However, Hartford’s early lead was too much to overcome, and it only grew over time. The Yard Goats added more runs in the fourth and fifth off struggling reliever Andrew Case, later adding an insurance run in the eighth for good measure.
Both teams finished with 14 hits, with seven of Hartford’s nine starting batters grabbing at least one hit.
For New Hampshire, Smith joined Nash Knight and Forrest Wall with three hits each.
Perez (0-1) was on the hook for New Hampshire, giving up seven runs off eight hits, striking out five. The win went to Heath Holder, allowing three hits in 2 2/3 innings of work immediately after coming in for Gold.
Dunkin’ Donuts Park hosts the second game of the series Friday night at 7:35, with lefties Zach Logue (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and Ty Culbreth (1-0, 0.00 ERA) starting for New Hampshire and Hartford respectively.
