Cunningham Homers, Bullpen Sharp in Wednesday Win

Vallee doubles in go-ahead run in eighth, Pinto reaches base four times

By New Hampshire Fisher Cats

9:22 PM EDT

MANCHESTER, NH – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (21-32, 55-65) utilized a pair of two-out doubles in the bottom of the eighth to take down the Hartford Yard Goats (19-33, 58-62) at Delta Dental Stadium on Wednesday night, 5-4. With two outs, shortstop Eric Snow and center fielder Mathieu Vallee

MANCHESTER, NH – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (21-32, 55-65) utilized a pair of two-out doubles in the bottom of the eighth to take down the Hartford Yard Goats (19-33, 58-62) at Delta Dental Stadium on Wednesday night, 5-4. With two outs, shortstop Eric Snow and center fielder Mathieu Vallee each doubled to break a 4-4 tie and help the Fisher Cats take their first game of the series.

After a four-inning start by New Hampshire’s Mason Olson, the Fisher Cats bullpen held Hartford scoreless over the final five innings. Alex Amalfi allowed one hit in two scoreless innings, Gage Stanifer struck out four in two innings and Yondrei Rojas (S, 4) struck out the final batter of the game to secure the Wednesday win.

Box Score

Hartford starter Sam Weatherly allowed three runs, two earned, in 1-1/3 innings. Reliever Cade Denton followed with 2-2/3 innings of one-run ball. Victor Juarez and Hunter Mann combined for three shutout frames with five punchouts and Carlos Torres (L, 6-6) allowed the go-ahead run to score in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Tonight's Top Takeaways:

RHP Gage Stanifer picked up his fifth win of the season, thanks to two scoreless frames and four strikeouts.
RHP Yondrei Rojas records fourth save of the season, third in August.
OF Mathieu Vallee delivers clutch go-ahead double in the eighth.
OF Carter Cunningham smacks two extra-base hits, hits first homer since August 9
INF Adrian Pinto reached four times in the win and drew three walks.
- Three walks tied Pinto’s Double-A single-game high
OF Alexis Hernandez’s ten-game hit streak ended with 0-for-2 night.

New Hampshire struck first on Wednesday. With one out in the first, center fielder Victor Arias reached on a three-base error. The next batter, first baseman Dub Gleed, ripped an RBI single to make it 1-0.

Hartford answered immediately in the top of the second. Right fielder Braylen Wimmer walked, and first baseman Jack O’Dowd singled. Following a double steal and popout, second baseman Roynier Hernandez cracked a sacrifice fly. Catcher Cole Messina laced an RBI single and pushed the Yard Goats ahead, 2-1.

In the bottom of the second, the Fisher Cats threatened with back-to-back walks. Two batters later, left fielder Carter Cunningham smashed an RBI double. The Cats loaded the bases on another walk and took the lead on a fielder’s choice hit by Arias, 3-2.

Trailing by a run, the Goats retook the lead. With two runners in scoring position and two outs, a Wimmer singled, coupled with an error made it 4-3 Hartford.

The Fisher Cats tied the game again in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run from Cunningham (7) which evened the score at 4-4.

With the game tied at four in the bottom of the eighth, Snow and Vallee's doubles helped the Fisher Cats take the game’s final lead at 5-4.

New Hampshire and Hartford continue their six-game series on Thursday, August 27, with first pitch slated for 6:03 PM. Toronto’s No. 3 prospect (MLB Pipeline) Johnny King (0-1, 3.00 ERA) will start for the Fisher Cats, and the Yard Goats will counter with lefty Bryson Hammer (1-1, 4.05 ERA). Coverage begins at 5:43 PM on WKXL, MLB.tv, the Bally Sports Live app, and the Fisher Cats Radio Network.

Country Night is Thursday, August 27, presented by 96.5 FM Live Free Country/Manchester Radio Group. Friday, August 28, is Latin Heritage Night presented by Latino Vibe 94.9 FM. It is the fourth Summer Reading Challenge game with postgame Atlas fireworks.

The Manchester Coconut Tenders take the field on August 29. The first 500 fans through the gates will receive a Coconut Tenders bobblehead giveaway presented by Delta Dental. Saturday is Dartmouth Health’s Love Your Heart Night with postgame Atlas fireworks. The series concludes on Sunday, August 30, with Princesses at the Park. It is Back to School Day presented by NH Healthy Families and kids can run the bases postgame.

The full 2027 home schedule can be viewed at nhfishercats.com. Season and single-game tickets are available at nhfishercats.com, via email at [email protected], by phone at (603) 641-2005, and in-person at the Delta Dental Stadium Box Office on 1 Line Drive in Manchester, New Hampshire.

About the New Hampshire Fisher Cats

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays and play their games at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. Over 180 former Fisher Cats have gone on to make their Major League debut. The Fisher Cats have raised millions of dollars for various charities through the Fisher Cats Foundation and continuously strive to improve the quality of life for Granite State residents. The organization has been recognized as New Hampshire Business Review’s “Best Sporting Event to Take Clients to”, Parenting New Hampshire Magazine’s “New Hampshire’s Favorite Sporting Event for Families”, and New Hampshire Magazine’s “Best New Hampshire Sports Team”. For more information on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, please visit nhfishercats.com, call (603) 641-2005, or contact Chris Jared via email at [email protected].