Rafael Lantigua hit a two-run double in the fifth inning to break a tie as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats defeated the Hartford Yard Goats 6-2 on Friday night at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, N.H. The Fisher Cats evened the six-game series at 2-2.
Yard Goats starter Nick Bush gave up six runs and four hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking none. But Bush threw three wild pitches, the first allowing Lantigua to score a first-inning run. Will Gaddis pitched the seventh, allowing one hit and two runs, both unearned. He walked one and struck out one.
New Hampshire starter Hayden Juenger allowed two hits and two runs in 3 2/3 innings, striking out four. Braden Scott followed with two scoreless innings, striking out five. Five Fisher Cats pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts.
Willie MacIver hit a solo homer in the second inning and Daniel Montano hit a solo shot in the fourth for the Yard Goats.
Ryan Gold hit a third-inning homer for New Hampshire.
The series continues Saturday at 7 p.m. RHP Noah Davis will pitch for Hartford against RHP Paxton Schultz.
Earlier in the week infielder Grant Lavigne, RHP Tony Locey and infielder Christopher Navarro were promoted to the Yard Goats from Spokane. Lavigne, a former Colorado Rockies first-round pick, collected his first hit for Hartford on Friday, a single to right field in the seventh inning.
RHP Karl Kauffmann and outfielder Jimmy Herron were promoted from the Yard Goats to Triple A.