Yard Goats rally in ninth inning to beat New Hampshire, 4-3

Hartford’s Bret Boswell was 3-for-5 with a double and one RBI in the Yard Goats’ 4-3 win over New Hampshire on Friday night.

MANCHESTER, N.H., April 19 — The Hartford Yard Goats scored two runs in the ninth inning and came from behind to defeat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4-3 on Friday night in Eastern League action at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.

Hartford shortstop Scott Burcham ripped a two run double in the ninth inning, scoring Willie Abreu and Brian Serven, and lifting the Yard Goats (7-9) to their fifth win in seven games.

Yard Goats starting pitcher Ashton Goudeau fired five scoreless innings and had five strikeouts as Harford carried a 2-0 lead in the eighth inning. Third baseman Bret Boswell had three hits and drove in a run for the Yard Goats, who can win their third straight series with a victory tomorrow night.

Hartford took a 2-0 lead when they scored a pair of runs off Fisher Cats starting pitcher Andrew Sopko in the third inning.  Manny Melendez walked and then scored all the way from first base on a double by Bret Boswell, who hit a rocket over left fielder Nash Knight’s head, giving Hartford a 1-0 lead.  Alan Trejo then reached on a throwing error by shortstop Kevin Smith to put runners at the corners.  Colton Welker followed with a run-scoring single, scoring Boswell and made it 2-0.

The Fisher Cats, who were held scoreless over the first seven innings made their move against the Yard Goats bullpen in the eighth inning.  New Hampshire (7-8) began the inning with a walk followed by a two base error.  Former Yard Goat Forrest Wall then cracked a game tying two RBI single into right field.  Later in the inning, Kevin Smith squeezed in the go-ahead run with a nice bunt.

However, the Yard Goats rallied in the top of the ninth inning.  Abreu walked and Serven was hit by a pitch.  Then, Burcham smashed a double into the left field corner scoring both runners and giving the Yard Goats a 4-3 lead.  Lefty Ben Bowden closed out the bottom of the ninth to earn his fourth save.

The Yard Goats play the rubber game of a three game series against the Fisher Cats on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. in New Hampshire.