Capra’s Late Inning Heroics Bite Yard Goats 

*New Hampshire 10, Hartford 5 *

WP- Emerson Jimenez (1-1)

LP- Julian Fernandez (2-2)

S-Fitz Stadler (1)

T- 3:19

A-4,790

Hartford, CT- Fisher Cats infielder Vinny Capra blasted a pair of two-run homers in the 8th and 9th innings leading New Hampshire past the Yard Goats 10-5 on Wednesday night at Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford. Capra’s first homer put New Hampshire ahead 6-5 in the eighth, and highlighted a four-run inning. The Yard Goats had a 5-4 lead in the 8th inning when the game was delayed for 91 minutes due to rain. Coco Montes had three hits and 3 RBI for the Yard Goats.

The Fisher Cats scored two runs in the first inning off Yard Goats starting pitcher Karl Kauffmann. Tanner Kirwer led off the game with an infield hit, stole second base, and scored on Otto Lopez’s RBI double, giving the Fisher Cats a 1-0 lead. Lopez scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 New Hampshire.

Hartford starting pitcher Karl Kauffman, the Rockies 2nd round pick out of the University of Michigan in 2019, turned in his best start of the season. The right-hander retired eight in a row, 10 of 11 and did not allow a hit in the second, third and fourth innings. Kauffmann worked five innings and surrendered two runs (1 ER) on four hits, with three walks and five strikeouts.

The Yard Goats took the lead by scoring three runs in the sixth inning and chasing Fisher Cats starter Maximo Castillo from the game. Hartford got its first run on an RBI single by Coco Montes to make it a 2-1 game. Elehuris Montero’s sacrifice fly scored Sean Bouchard to tie the contest, and Willie Abreu walked with the bases loaded, scoring Taylor Snyder and giving the Yard Goats a 3-2 lead.

The Fisher Cats took a 4-3 lead on a two-run double by Otto Lopez in the seventh inning. However, the Yard Goats rallied again for a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. With runners at second and third base and two outs, Coco Montes hit a popup that fell between three defenders on the first base line, scoring Jameson Hannah and Sean Bouchard, giving Hartford a 5-4 lead. The two-RBI single was Montes’ third hit of the game.

After a 91 minute rain delay, LJ Talley singled off reliever Julian Fernandez and Capra followed with a go-ahead two-run home run. Tanner Kirwer and Chavez Young each contributed with RBI singles as part of a four-run inning to make it 8-5. Capra cranked another two-run homer in his next at-bat in the ninth inning to make it 10-5.

The Yard Goats continue their six-game homestand against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Dunkin’ Donuts Park on Thursday night (7:05 PM). Tickets are available by visiting the website, yardgoatsbaseball.com. The game will be broadcast on AM 1410 WPOP and FM 100.9 FM and newsradio1410.iheart.com and the video stream available on MiLB.TV.