Yard Goats can’t get the big hit in 4-2 loss to New Hampshire

Hartford outfielder Vince Fernandez hit his second home run in two nights at Dunkin’ Donuts Park.

HARTFORD, April 12 – Hartford outfielder Vince Fernandez ripped a home run into the left field seats for the second consecutive game. But the Yard Goats couldn’t muster up much more offense on a damp night at Dunkin’ Donuts Park in a 4-2 Eastern League loss to the visiting New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

New Hampshire (4-4) scored three runs in the second inning to win the second game in the four-game series here before 3,843 fans.

The Blue Jays’ Double A affiliate got RBI singles from Vinny Capra and Kacy Clemens to take a 2-0 lead. New Hampshire added a third run on a passed ball.

Clemens is the son of former Major League pitcher Roger Clemens – the long-time star with the Red Sox and Blue Jays, who played some minor league ball in New Britain at Beehive Field in 1983 helping the New Britain Red Sox win an Eastern League championship.

Hartford (2-7) got on the board on Fernandez’s solo home run in the second inning off Fisher Cat starter Zach Logue to cut the lead to 3-1.

New Hampshire scored a run in the fifth inning on Alberto Mineo’s double and the Yard Goats came back with a run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI fielder’s choice by Tyler Nevin to make it 4-2.

However, the Fisher Cats bullpen had 4.1 scoreless innings of relief to secure the win. Kirby Snead pitched two innings of scoreless relief to earn his second save of the season. The Yard Goats were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position on Friday night.

Colton Welker was 2-for-4 for Hartford while Bret Boswell and Alan Trejo each doubled. Ty Culbreth took the loss for the Yard Goats on the mound. He started, went five innings and scattered seven hits. He fanned five.

The series resumes Saturday night with a 6:05 p.m. start.

New Hampshire 4, Hartford 2
At Hartford
New Hampshire (4-4)               030  010  000  — 4-7-0
Hartford (2-7)                              010  001  000  — 2-8-0
Logue, Fishman (5), Snead (8) and Hissey; Culbreth, Gonzalez (6), Griggs (8), Cozart (9) and Rabago; WP: Fishman (1-0); LP: Culbreth (1-1); Save: Snead 2