MANCHESTER, NH – Move over Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Here comes Juan Kelly.
Thanks in large part to Kelly’s efforts at the plate the New Hampshire Fisher Cats defeated the Hartford Yard Goats on Monday, 5-2.
New Hampshire got two runs in the first, but the rest came courtesy of Kelly, culminating in an eighth-inning solo shot toward the Hilton Garden Inn that marked his third homer in four games.
Adding that to his two-RBI double in the third, Kelly concludes the Fisher Cats’ series against Hartford with nine RBI in total, almost doubling his season total coming into the series.
New Hampshire also received an outstanding pitching performance from TJ Zeuch, who allowed six hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings of work.
The only blemish on the day for Zeuch (2-2) came in the fifth, as Scott Burcham and Wes Rogers would come across the plate to prevent the shutout.
Danny Young earned his fifth hold of the year after recording the game’s next four outs after the departure of Zeuch. Andrew Case converted his second save opportunity of the series and five save of the year, retiring the Yard Goats in the ninth.
Hartford starter Peter Lambert (3-2) allowed eight of New Hampshire’s ten hits over his five-inning stretch, walking two and striking out four.
In addition to Kelly’s two hits, the Fisher Cats also received a pair of hits from Guerrero and Jonathan Davis, with Guerrero and Davis also contributing an RBI each in the first.
Taking Davis’ place in the leadoff spot, Bo Bichette also notched a pair of hits.
Hartford got two-hit days from Burcham and Mylz Jones.
With the win, New Hampshire clinched the season series with the Yard Goats, winning them the Plymouth Rock Assurance Cup for the second year in a row.
New Hampshire returns to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium on Tuesday night with a 6:35 matchup against the Portland SeaDogs.
The Fisher Cats will send Josh DeGraaf (0-1, 3.38 ERA) against righthander Teddy Stankiewicz (4-4, 4.99 ERA).
