Late go-ahead homer dooms Fisher Cats

HARTFORD, C.T — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, fell on Friday night against the Hartford Yard Goats by a score of 8-6 from Dunkin’ Park. The Yard Goats lead the series three games to two.

New Hampshire (16-25, 51-58) led by as much as 5-2 after the top of the fourth. The Fisher Cats scored four in the third on Steward Berroa’s fifth homer of the season, Rainer Nunez’s RBI single and Andres Sosa’s two-run single. Berroa hit his first home run since July 2 vs Portland. Nunez collected three hits on the game, his second three-hit game of the series.

Alan Roden made it a three-run lead with a solo shot to left-center, his third Double-A homer, in the top of the fourth. The Blue Jays No. 7 prospect had two hits on the night and has 10 in the series.

Hartford (20-21, 50-59) rallied with a run in the fourth and three runs in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead.

Riley Tirotta tied the game in the eighth with an opposite field home run, his fifth in Double-A. Tirotta has eight home runs this year between High-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire.

In the bottom of the eighth, Hartford’s Sterlin Thompson hit a two-run go-ahead homer off Trevor Clifton down the right-field line with two outs to win the game for the Yard Goats, his second home run of the night.

Starting right-hander Abdiel Mendoza made his fourth Double-A start. The 24-year-old Panamanian threw 4.2 innings and allowed three runs on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts in a no-decision. It’s the third straight start where Mendoza has struck out five batters.

The Fisher Cats continue their road trip against the Hartford Yard Goats tomorrow night at 6:10 pm. RHP Alejandro Melean (2-1, 3.83 ERA) will get the start for New Hampshire against RHP Case Williams (1-9, 6.35 ERA) for Hartford.

The next Fisher Cats home stand begins Tuesday, August 22 against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Promotions include College & Back to School Night Thursday, presented by SNHU and postgame Atlas Fireworks, Hockey Night in New Hampshire Friday, presented by US Cellular, Love Your Heart Night Saturday, presented by Dartmouth Health and a Pencil Pouch Giveaway Sunday with Kids Run the Bases Postgame, sponsored by the N-H Liquor Commission Division of Enforcement.

Tickets are available at NHFisherCats.com, via email at [email protected], over the phone at (603) 641-2005, or in-person at the Fisher Cats box office at 1 Line Drive in Manchester.