Fisher Cats Drop Two Close Games in Wednesday's DH

*Manchester, NH *- The Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies Double-A affiliate) swept a Wednesday night doubleheader from the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays) on Thursday night at Delta Dental Stadium.

Game 1: Hartford 6, New Hampshire 4

The opener of the doubleheader was the resumption of Tuesday night's suspended game, which was stopped in the middle of the first inning.

Troy Miller came into the game in the second inning, following Simeon Woods Richardson’s three strikeouts in the first inning on Tuesday. The Yard Goats scored first courtesy of a pair of doubles in the second, but the Fisher Cats answered two innings later courtesy of a Brock Lundquist sacrifice fly.

The Yard Goats took a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth with an RBI single from Matt McLaughlin and a two-run base hit from Taylor Snyder.

The Fisher Cats pulled a run back after Gabriel Moreno grounded into a run-scoring fielder's choice in the bottom of the fifth, but Todd Czinige would deliver a two-run home run in the top of the sixth to push the Yard Goats’ lead to 6-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, Blue Jays’ number three prospect Jordan Groshans delivered a two-run double to trim the deficit to 6-4.

Strong relief work from Fitz Stadler and Mike Ellenbest held the Yard Goats scoreless over the final three innings, but the Fisher Cats could not push across the two tying runs in the ninth.

Game 2: Hartford 8, New Hampshire 7 (F/9)

Despite two home runs from Samad Taylor, the Yard Goats outlasted the Fisher Cats 8-7 in nine innings in game two of Wednesday's doubleheader at Delta Dental Stadium. The second game of the twin bill was scheduled for seven innings, but the teams needed two extra frames to determine the winner.

Taylor has now hit a career-high 11 home runs this season, which ties him for the most in the Double-A Northeast League. Also, after recording hits in each of Wednesday's twin bill games, he is currently riding a career-high 13-game hitting streak.

After falling behind early, Taylor helped New Hampshire knot the score in the second. Down 4-1, Chris Bec singled with one out against Hartford starter Will Gaddis, and with Nick Podkul batting, Bec stole second. Later in the at bat, Podkul stroked an RBI single to center to make it a 4-2 game.

Two batters later, Taylor blasted a two-run shot to left to knot the score at four.

The Fisher Cats took the lead in the third inning against reliever Brian Gonzalez on an RBI fielder's choice by LJ Talley, and Taylor padded the lead with his power in the fourth. After Reggie Pruitt singled and stole second with one out, Taylor drilled his second two-run homer over the wall in center to make it 7-4 Fisher Cats.

Kyle Johnston tossed three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, but the Yard Goats tied the game in the sixth against Brody Rodning. After back-to-back singles by pinch-hitter Todd Czinege and Matt McLaughlin, Manuel Melendez cut the deficit to two with an RBI single to center.

Rodning struck out Javier Guevara, but then issued a wild pitch with LJ Hatch batting that brought home McLaughlin to make it a one-run game. Hatch later tied up the score at seven with an RBI single to center.

Jon Harris relieved Rodning and was able to keep the game tied by getting out of the sixth, and then tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth, but Hartford broke through in the ninth against Andrew McInvale (1-2), who recorded the loss.

With Taylor Snyder on second and Elehuris Montero batting, McInvale issued a wild pitch to move Synder to third. Montero then drilled a go-ahead hit to left to make it an 8-7 contest.

Reagan Todd (2-1) earned the win for the Yard Goats, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings.

New Hampshire's game two starter Curtis Taylor was dealt some tough luck in the first inning. After striking out the opening batter Jameson Hannah, Taylor induced a fly ball off the bat of Sean Bouchard. However, the ball was lost in the lights, and Bouchard made it to third on a triple.

Snyder followed with an RBI double to put the Yard Goats ahead 1-0. After Montero walked, Willie Abreu smacked a three-run homer to right to make it a 4-0 contest.

The Fisher Cats recorded the first of their seven unanswered runs in the first against Gaddis. Following an Otto Lopez two-out single, Jordan Groshans lifted an RBI double to left to cut the deficit to three. Groshans has now recorded an RBI in four consecutive games.

The Fisher Cats continue their series against the Yard Goats at Delta Dental Stadium on Thursday with a spectacular Atlas Fireworks show after the final out. Game time is set for 6:35 p.m. Tickets to all remaining home games are available at nhfishercats.com.

All 120 games this season will be broadcast live on the Fisher Cats flagship station, AM 610 WGIR. For media requests, please email Tyler Murray at [email protected].

For more information, visit NHFisherCats.com.