Cats Comeback Falls Short 

HARTFORD, CT — With the game’s tying run at first, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (1-2, 31-40) fell to the Hartford Yard Goats (2-1, 40-31) at Dunkin’ Park Thursday night, 7-5. New Hampshire erased a 4-0 deficit to tie the game at 4-4, but the Yard Goats plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh to win their second-straight game over the Fisher Cats.

Hartford’s Juan Mejia (W, 1-1) struck out two batters and dealt two scoreless innings of relief. Fisher Cats reliever Hunter Gregory (L, 4-2) struck a batter out in one inning and allowed three hits before exiting in his second inning of work.

New Hampshire starter CJ Van Eyk allowed three earned runs on five hits in his first two innings. After loading the bases with a pair of walks and a hit batter, Van Eyk ended his outing by retiring his final nine batters faced, which included striking out the side in the fifth inning.

The first Fisher Cats first hit off Hartford starter Mason Albright came in the top of the third inning by second baseman Ryan McCarty, who hit a home run in the previous two games in Hartford. Since his first game with New Hampshire on June 4, McCarty has hit six home runs and is 20-for-69 with 13 RBI. Of McCarty’s 20 hits, 11 are for extra-bases. Albright gave up a pair of runs in five innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

McCarty’s home run cut Hartford’s lead in half to 4-2 in the top of the third. The Fisher Cats tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. McCarty and shortstop Josh Kasevich led off the inning with consecutive singles on new Yard Goats pitcher Alec Barger. Alex De Jesus bounced in McCarty from third, and Kasevich came around to tie the game at 4-4 on a dropped fly ball in right field by Yanquiel Fernandez with two outs.

Fernandez rectified his defensive mishap with a two-run triple in the bottom of the seventh to give Hartford a 6-4 lead. Yard Goats third baseman Warming Bernabel plated Fernandez with an RBI single to move the lead to 7-4 in the seventh.

Trailing by three runs in the top of the ninth, Devonte Brown began the inning with a leadoff walk against Hartford’s Seth Halvorsen. After New Hampshire recorded two outs, catcher Kekai Rios walked to bring the game’s tying run to the plate. McCarty produced his third hit and third RBI of the game with a right-field single and move the score to 7-5. Halvorsen (S, 7) got Kasevich down on strikes for the game’s final out.

New Hampshire finished 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position to Hartford’s 5-for-15.

The six-game series between Hartford and New Hampshire crosses the halfway point on Friday night with a 7:10 PM EDT first pitch. New Hampshire’s Trenton Wallace (3-2, 2.81 ERA) opposes Hartford’s Connor Van Scoyoc (5-5, 5.17 ERA) in game four of six to be played in Hartford before a three-game series in Portland from Monday, July 1-Wednesday, July 3.

After nine games in nine days on the road to start the second half, the Fisher Cats return to Delta Dental Stadium for three games on Independence Day weekend, July 4-6, against the Portland Sea Dogs, Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Atlas Fireworks follow the conclusion of each contest.

Fans can purchase multi-game memberships and single-game tickets at NHFishercats.com, via email at [email protected], by phone at (603) 641-2005, and in-person at the Fisher Cats box office on 1 Line Drive in Manchester.

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 155 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].