Fisher Cats Smash 14 Hits, Strike Out 14 Batters In 12-0 Win

HARTFORD, CT. – Thanks to 14 hits from the offense and 14 strikeouts from the pitching staff, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays Double-A affiliate) crushed the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies) 12-0 on Tuesday night at Dunkin' Donuts Park.

Chavez Young led the way, finishing 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a homer, and four RBIs. Kevin Vicuna went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while Samad Taylor and LJ Talley homered in the effort.

On the pitching side, starter Johnny Barbato (3.0 IP, 1 H, 5 K) retired the last eight batters he faced before turning things over to the bullpen. Parker Caracci (W, 1-0) registered two scoreless innings and earned the win in his Double-A debut, allowing two hits while walking one and striking out two.

Following Caracci, Brody Rodning (1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K), Marcus Reyes (2.0 IP, 1 BB, 4 K) and Emerson Jimenez (1.0IP) combined for four shutout innings.

The Fisher Cats (42-45) took the lead in the second against Yard Goats starter Matt Dennis (L, 3-8). Jordan Groshans led off with a single, and he moved to second on a groundout by Young. After Vicuna reached on an infield single, Talley drilled a three-run homer to right to put New Hampshire ahead 3-0.

The Fisher Cats continued to pour it on in the third inning. Tanner Kirwer hit a leadoff double, and, after a walk to Taylor, Vinny Capra stroked an RBI single to left to up the Fisher Cats lead to 4-0. Following another single for Groshans to load the bases, Young lofted a two-run single to center to make it a 6-0 Fisher Cats edge. Chris Bec capped the inning with an RBI single to push the lead to 7-0.

New Hampshire added four more runs in the fourth against reliever Michael Baird to up the lead to 11-0, courtesy of two-run homers from Taylor and Young.

The Fisher Cats scored their final run on an RBI single by Kevin Vicuna in the seventh to make it a 12-0 game.

The Yard Goats (29-60) were limited to just four hits in the series opener.

The Fisher Cats continue their six-games series at Hartford on Wednesday. New Hampshire right-hander Luis Quinones (0-2, 4.24 ERA) takes the hill for New Hampshire against Hartford righty Karl Kauffmann (1-8, 9.04 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m., and fans can catch all of the action on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network.

New Hampshire will return home to Delta Dental Stadium on Tuesday, August 24 for games with Binghamton (Mets) and Portland (Red Sox). For tickets, visit nhfishercats.com.