Yard Goats send four home runs out of the park to beat Fisher Cats, 9-6

Hartford’s Bret Boswell hit one of four home runs for the Yard Goats on Saturday night as Hartford won for the second time in three nights over New Hampshire.

HARTFORD, April 14 – Part of the appeal of Dunkin’ Donuts Park and the Hartford Yard Goats is fireworks after the game.

The six thousand fans that came to Saturday night’s game saw an early fireworks show as the Yard Goats tied a franchise record with four home runs in the first two innings as Hartford beat New Hampshire for the second time in three nights with a 9-6 Eastern League victory.

Hartford (3-7) had 10 hits, including an RBI double from Willie Abreu and an RBI single from Scott Burcham in the sixth. Mylz Jones’ RBI single in the seventh inning extended the Yard Goats lead.

Trailing 1-0 in the first inning, the Yard Goats energized the crowd with three home runs. Alan Trejo tied the game with a solo home run. Colton Welker followed with a walk before Tyler Nevin flew out to center field for the second out.

Vince Fernandez continued his red-hot streak at the plate with his third home run in three games. Fernandez ripped a two-run home run to centerfield.

Jones, back with Hartford after a short stay of just three days with Colorado’s Triple A Albuquerque, followed with a home run to left field to give Hartford a 4-1 lead. Jones led the Hartford effort with a 3-for-4 performance with a double and one RBI.

The visiting Fisher Cats (4-5), the Double A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, cut the lead to one run in the top of the second inning, 4-3, with a home run from Chad Spanburger and a sacrifice fly from Kacy Clemens.

Hartford’s Bret Boswell hit his first home run of the season – a two-run shot into the upper deck in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to three runs, 6-3.  Bowell nearly hit his second home run in the eighth inning but it fell just short of the wall in right field.

Jordan Foley picked up his first win of the season on the mound for the Yard Goats with 2.2 innings of strong relief. Philip Diehl pitched 1.1 innings before Hartford’s Ben Bowden earned his second save of the season by retiring the side in order in the ninth inning.

It’s the third time in the four-year history of the Yard Goats that Hartford has hit four home runs in a single game. The last time was against Portland on May 6, 2018 at Dunkin’ Donuts Park.

The four-game series wraps up Sunday at Dunkin’ Donuts Park at 1:05 p.m. The Yard Goats, going for the series win, will send Ashton Goudeau to the mound against Andrew Sopko in a battle of right handed pitchers.

Hartford 9, New Hampshire 6
At Hartford
New Hampshire (4-5)                   120  000  300  — 6-8-0
Hartford (3-7)                                420  002  10x  — 9-10-3
Diaz, Rios (6), Tice (8) and Mineo; Garcia, Foley (5), Diehl (7), Bowden (9) and Rabago; WP: Foley 1-1, LP: Diaz 1-1; Save: Bowden (H) 2; Att.: 6,145