HARTFORD, Conn. – For third straight day, the Fisher Cats put up multiple home runs, but this time it wasn’t enough.
Despite dingers from Forrest Wall, Kevin Smith and Chad Spanberger, the Fisher Cats couldn’t make it three in a row against the Hartford Yard Goats, falling 11-9 on Saturday night.
New Hampshire came just short of a massive comeback, putting up five runs in the ninth, highlighted by Spanberger’s two-run blast to left.
All five runs came with two outs and Vinny Capra’s fly ball to left squelched any possibility of a further rally.
The rally only became necessary thanks to Hartford’s own offensive explosion in the sixth, putting up six runs to follow their three-run fifth.
Willy Ortiz became the losing pitcher thanks to those two innings, unable to clean up the three runs that eventually were assigned to starter Patrick Murphy and leaving with all six runs on his ledger after the sixth.
Ortiz left after recording five outs, allowing six hits and a walk during his outing.
The win went to Rayan Gonzalez for his perfect relief in the sixth.
Gonzalez is now 3-1 while Ortiz is now 3-5.
In addition to New Hampshire’s home runs, Tyler Nevin and Vance Vizcaino also bagged dingers for the ‘Goats, ending as two of Hartford’s four multi-hit performers on the day.
Alberto Mineo finished with a 4-for-5 day for New Hampshire with two RBI and two runs scored, as he, Spanberger and Smith joined Christian Williams, Josh Palacios and Santiago Espinal in New Hampshire’s multi-hit club.
The series concludes on Sunday with a late 5:05 p.m. start. Nate Pearson (0-2, 3.54 ERA) takes the mound for New Hampshire against Hartford’s Matt Dennis (0-1, 5.00 ERA).
