MANCHESTER, NH – Saturday night was Star Wars night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were able to find the Force. Well, they were able to find enough of it for a win anyway.
Early runs and dominant pitching, not ancient weapons and hokey religions, helped the Fisher Cats earn a 2-0 victory over Harrisburg, evening the series at one game apiece.
New Hampshire’s first run came in the first, with Cavan Biggio’s line drive to right bringing newcomer Santiago Espinal home.
Connor Panas led off the second with his seventh home run of the year, and New Hampshire hurler Jordan Romano took things from there.
Romano duplicated the form that gave him an 8-0 start earlier in the year, allowing just three hits and coming just one inning short of his second professional complete game.
Travis Bergin arrived in the ninth to wrap up his fourth save, adding two strikeouts to Romano’s eight, helping Romano climb to 9-4 on the year.
Despite the loss, Harrisburg starting pitcher Kyle McGowin also submitted an excellent performance, even if it inferior to Romano’s masterpiece.
McGowin lasted six innings, allowing four hits and three walks, striking out nine in the process.
With the loss, McGowin fell to 4-3.
Each team garnered just four hits on the night with Panas and Harrisburg’s Jake Noll each collecting two for their respective squads.
The series concludes on Sunday afternoon as Justin Dillon (2-4, 6.80 ERA) takes the mound for New Hampshire against Harrisburg’s Logan Darnell (6-4, 4.94 ERA).