Yard Goats get the job done in tenth inning to beat New Hampshire

Hartford’s Bret Boswell had two hits including a bunt single in the tenth inning to lift the Yard Goats to a win over New Hampshire on Sunday.

HARTFORD, May 19 — Brett Boswell’s bunt-single and throwing error by New Hampshire third baseman Vinny Capra scored Arvicent Perez in the 10th inning to give the Hartford Yard Goats a 5-4 Eastern League victory over New Hampshire Sunday afternoon, before a sellout crowd of 6,581 at Dunkin’ Donuts Park.

The victory moved Hartford (24-19) to a season-high five games over .500, as the Yard Goats took three of four from the Fisher Cats.  It was the Yard Goats’ ninth series win in the last 10 and their 11th victory in 15 games against New Hampshire.

Alexander Guillen, the third pitcher for the Yard Goats, picked up his first victory with three scoreless innings.  He allowed one hit, struck out two and walked one.

With Perez placed at second base to start the bottom of the tenth inning, Boswell dropped a bunt up the third base line against reliever Bryan Baker that Capra fielded and promptly threw into right field, securing the Hartford victory.

In a see-saw battle, Hartford took a 1-0 lead in the first inning off New Hampshire starting pitcher Nate Pearson, a first round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays – the parent club of the Fisher Cats. Hartford’s Colton Welker singled and that was followed by a walk and an RBI-single by Perez.

New Hampshire tied it in the second inning off of Hartford southpaw Jack Wynkoop on a lead-off single by Alberto Mineo, a double by Patrick Kivlehan and a sacrifice fly by Riley Adams.

A lead-off homer to left by Tyler Nevin and Boswell’s run-scoring double gave the Yard Goats a 3-1 advantage in the third, but New Hampshire tied in the fourth on Kivlehan’s two-run home run to left.  Santiago Espinal’s two-out RBI-single in the fifth gave the Fisher Cats a 4-3 edge but Hartford scored an unearned run off of reliever Ty Tice on a bases-loaded walk to Brian Serven with two outs in the seventh.

Pearson was lifted after four innings, allowing three runs on seven hits.  He walked two and struck out six.  Wynkoop’s string of quality starts was stopped at four, after he permitted four runs on eight hits over six innings.  He struck out five.

For Hartford, Welker had two hits and two runs scored, Perez two hits and an RBI and Boswell two hits to pace Hartford’s 10-hit attack.

Kivlehan’s homer, double and two RBI led the Fisher Cats, while Mineo had two hits and two runs scored and Capra added two hits.

It was the 11th sellout of the season.  The Yard Goats home stand continues Monday at 7:05 PM against the Detroit Tigers affiliate, Erie.  RHP Brandon Gold starts for Hartford against RHP Casey Mize for Erie.