MANCHESTER, N.H. – Andrew Sopko spearheaded the New Hampshire Fisher Cats’ first shutout of the year, as the Fisher Cats defeated the Hartford Yard Goats 1-0 on Thursday night.
Despite leaving after only 63 pitches, Sopko lasted seven innings, giving up just three Hartford singles to get his second win of the year. Ty Tice gave up just one walk in the eighth and ninth for his first save of the year.
Hartford hurler Jack Wynkoop fell to 2-4, earning the loss despite pitching almost as well as Sopko. Wynkoop left after the sixth, shortly following a pair of hits that gave the game its only run.
Nash Knight was responsible for that run, reaching on a double and eventually coming home thanks to Santiago Espinal’s second single of the day.
Espinal now has hits in 9 of his last ten games, putting him at 27 for the year, just four back of the league lead.
The Fisher Cats and Yard Goats continue the series on Friday at 6:35 p.m.
Patrick Murphy (0-3, 4.56 ERA) takes the mound for New Hampshire against Hartford’s Brandon Gold (1-2, 5.48).
