HARTFORD, Conn. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats now have a day off to reflect on their four-game series sweep of the Hartford Yard Goats, defeating Hartford 8-1 on Sunday.
Eduard Pinto capped off a five-run fourth inning with a two-run home run. That inning ultimately proved to be all the Fisher Cats would need, but New Hampshire’s offense wasn’t done.
New Hampshire added two more runs in the sixth, courtesy of a Pinto double, and a Harold Ramirez solo shot to right center in the seventh.
An RBI double from Omar Carrizales in the eighth prevented the shutout, but the Yard Goats went down in order in the ninth, completing the day with seven scattered hits.
Although a few of those hits did come earlier in the contest, Hartford sent only the minimum number of batters for the game’s first four innings. New Hampshire starting pitcher TJ Zeuch was in cruise control, striking out five and allowing five hits over six innings of work. Hartford starter Evan Grills left after 5 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs off seven hits and a walk, striking out three.
Zeuch climbs to 7-4 with the win while Grills is now 2-4 on the year.
At the plate, Carrizales and Sam Hilliard each contributed two hits apiece for Hartford while Pinto and Jon Berti had two-hit days for New Hampshire. Santiago Espinal contributed two RBI and Max Pentecost also added an RBI during his 3-for-4 day.
The Fisher Cats return to action on Tuesday night back in Manchester as they face the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Richmond sends Taylor Hill (0-5, 4.88 ERA) to the mound against New Hampshire’s Tayler Saucedo (2-1, 4.37 ERA).
