In another impressive display of early inning offense, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats concluded the first road series of the year with a sweep, defeating the Hartford Yard Goats on Saturday night, 8-5.
A five-run rally in the second inning would prove to be all New Hampshire would need, sparked by a two-RBI triple from Raffy Lopez. Jonathan Davis would bring Lopez home on a single followed by extra-base hits from Tim Lopes and Anthony Alford that would bring more ‘Cats across the plate.
Hartford’s Dillon Thomas and Dom Nunez contributed a pair of home runs in the bottom of the second to bring the Yard Goats back within two runs, but Lopez responded in the next inning with his third four-bagger of the year, a solo shot to right.
Josh Fuentes and Max White would each bring in Yard Goats to put the game back within reach, but the Fisher Cats responded with a run in the seventh off a Ryan McBroom single and a ninth inning homer from Alford.
Jon Harris did just enough to earn the win for New Hampshire, going five-and-a-third, allowing four runs on six hits. Jose Fernandez earned the save, his second of the year.
Luis Niebla dropped to 0-2 on the year, scattering seven hits over five innings for the Yard Goats.
The win sealed the Fisher Cats first three-game road series sweep since the end of May 2014, also spoiling the first three games in the history of Hartford’s new home, Dunkin’ Donuts Park.
Hartford (3-7) will look to get their first home win of the year on Monday with a 7:05 tilt, pitting Ryan Castellani (1-1, 3.27) against the Harrisburg Senators and their probable starter, John Simms (0-1, 3.00).
New Hampshire (5-4) will travel to Arm and Hammer Park to face off in a 7 p.m. matchup against the New York Yankees’ Double-A affiliate, the Trenton Thunder. Trenton will send Domingo German (0-1, 6.23) to the mound while the Fisher Cats are scheduling Shane Dawson (0-1, 18.00) to the hill.
The Fisher Cats return to Manchester on Friday, April 21 for another matchup against the Yard Goats, following their four-game set in Trenton.
