Five-Run Eighth Dooms Cats in Dunkin’ Park
HARTFORD, CT – Right fielder Carter Cunningham walloped his first Double-A home run, but the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were sunk on Saturday by a five-run eighth at Dunkin’ Park against the Hartford Yard Goats, 7-2. Cunningham’s two-run blast soared 437 ft. as the newcomer strung together a two-for-four effort.
HARTFORD, CT – Right fielder Carter Cunningham walloped his first Double-A home run, but the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were sunk on Saturday by a five-run eighth at Dunkin’ Park against the Hartford Yard Goats, 7-2. Cunningham’s two-run blast soared 437 ft. as the newcomer strung together a two-for-four effort.
New Hampshire starter Gage Stanifer allowed four hits and struck out five batters behind five innings of two-run ball. Reliever Aaron Munson (L, 1-1) suffered the loss despite tossing a scoreless sixth and seventh inning. The right-hander was hit for five earned runs in the eighth before fellow righty Bea Philip recorded the final out of the eighth.
Hartford starter Jake Brooks fired a quality start, as the righty struck out four batters and gave up a pair of runs in six innings. Relief pitcher Carlos Torres (W, 4-2) kept the Cats in check with two shutout frames out of the bullpen.
Tonight’s Top Takeaways
RF Carter Cunningham mashed his first Double-A home run in the contest.
RHP Beau Philip has not allowed a run in his first three outings with the Cats.
RHP Gage Stanifer logged his fifth five-inning start of the season.
Stanifer retired eight in a row to end his night with five strikeouts.
Fisher Cats drop third-straight game in Hartford, have fallen in 9 of their 11 games
Hartford’s big moment decided Saturday’s game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Locked in a 2-2 tie, third baseman Dyan Jorge and second baseman Roc Riggio cracked a pair of singles. Two batters later, center fielder Braylen Wimmer laced a two-run knock to give the Goats a 4-2 lead. Following a Munson strikeout, designated hitter Bryant Betancourt walked, and first baseman Aidan Longwell (8) mashed a three-run homer to make it 7-2.
The Yard Goats scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. Jorge and Riggio walked to open the inning. Two hitters later, Wimmer ripped an RBI single and made it 1-0.
New Hampshire answered in the third. With two outs, first baseman Jorge Burgos doubled to set up Cunningham’s (1) two-run blast to give the Cats a 2-1 lead.
The Goats quickly tied it in the bottom of the third. Following a groundout, Riggio walked and shortstop Andy Perez singled. With runners at the corners, Wimmer ripped another RBI single and evened the score at two.
The Fisher Cats and Yard Goats finish their seven-game series on Sunday, with Fisher Cats RHP Austin Cates (1-2, 4.23 ERA) slated to go against Hartford’s Connor Staine (4-1, 3.96 ERA) with a 1:10 PM EDT first pitch from Dunkin’ Park.
Season and single-game tickets for the 2026 season 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 170 former Fisher Cats have reached the Major League level. 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].