Hartford 5-10-0New Hampshire 4-10-0WP- Chris Rusin (1-0)LP- Bryan Baker (1-3)S- Ben Bowden (14)T- 2:40A- 4,799
Hartford 5-10-0
New Hampshire 4-10-0
WP- Chris Rusin (1-0)
LP- Bryan Baker (1-3)
S- Ben Bowden (14)
T- 2:40
A- 4,799
MANCHESTER, NH- Scoring two runs in the eighth and two in the ninth, the Hartford Yard Goats rallied for a 5-4 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Saturday night, before 4,799 at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. The win placed Hartford (27-21) a season-high six games over .500 and two games out of first place. The Yard Goats, winners of three straight, have won eight of 11 and 16 of 23. It was also Hartford's 13th win in 17 games against New Hampshire (22-24).
Trailing 4-1, entering the eighth, the Yard Goats started their comeback bid with back-to-back singles by Mylz Jones and Manny Melendez. Jones advanced to third on a fly out and scored on a wild pitch. Colton Welker then delivered a run-scoring double.
Willie Abreu, who threw out a runner at home plate from right-field to end the eighth inning, started the ninth with a single against New Hampshire closer Bryan Baker. After Brian Serven singled and Bret Boswell walked, Jones delivered an RBI-single and Melendez a sacrifice fly to give the Yard Goats the lead for good.
Reliever Chris Rusin, on rehabilitation from the Colorado Rockies, picked up the victory with three scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and faced the minimum nine batters. Ben Bowden pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his league-leading 15th save in 15 opportunities. Yard Goats starter Jack Wynkoop went five innings, allowing four runs in the fifth on a three-run homer by Riley Adams and a solo shot by Patrick Kivlehan.
Jones's two hits, run scored and RBI paced the Yard Goats' 10-hit attack, while Welker added a single, double and RBI and Serven had two hits.
Game three of the four-game series is Sunday at 1:35 PM. In a match up of right-handers Brandon Gold will pitch for Hartford against Yennsy Diaz for New Hampshire. The game will be broadcast on News Radio 1410AM, on 100.9 FM and on the Internet on newsradio1410.iheart.com and on MiLB.com. The Yard Goats return home Tuesday, May 28 at 7:05 PM against Portland, the Red Sox affiliate.
