NH Rallies Late Before Heartbreaking Loss

Manchester, NH - Despite another terrific start from Andrew Sopko  (7 IP, 2 R) and a three-run rally in the eighth inning, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays Double-A affiliate) took a heartbreaking loss to the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies), who scored twice in the top of the ninth inning to win 4-3 on Friday night at Northeast Delta Stadium.
Held to just three hits over the first seven innings, New Hampshire trailed 2-0 for the majority of the game thanks to a pair of Hartford runs in the third. The Fisher Cats eighth inning rally started with a walk to Ryan Hissey , and a dropped fly ball in left field off the bat of Vinny Capra  that put runners on second and third. 
With the tying runs in scoring position, Forrest Wall  ripped a two-run single through second baseman Alan Trejo  to even the score at 2-2. Santiago Espinal  then blooped a single to left, and a groundout from Alberto Mineo  put runners on the corners. The next batter was Kevin Smith , who pushed a bunt up the first base line as Wall raced home from third with the go-ahead run.
Hartford struck back with two runs in the top of the ninth on a walk, a hit batter and a two-run double by Scott Burcham. A 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth secured the 4-3 final.

The loss brought New Hampshire's three-game winning streak to an end, but the Fisher Cats can still pick up their second consecutive series victory with a win over Hartford on Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, with RHP Patrick Murphy  on the hill for New Hampshire.