Yard Goats' 9th Inning Rally Comes up Short
July 9, 2022 - Eastern League (EL)
Hartford Yard Goats News Release
Manchester, NH- The Yard Goats scored three runs with two-outs in the top of the ninth inning, but the Fisher Cats held off the late run for a 5-4 win on Saturday night at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, New Hampshire. Grant Lavigne, who grew up in the next town and led his team to a state championship in the Fisher Cats home ballpark, cracked a single to make it 5-2 and Kyle Datres contributed with a two-run single to make it 5-4. However, reliever Sean Rackoski recorded the final out with runners at first and second to earn his third save. New Hampshire scored all five runs on home runs, with a solo shot by Zak Cook and a pair of two-run blasts by Ryan Gold and Chris Bec.
Zac Cook hit the very first pitch of the bottom of the first inning over the right field fence off Hartford starter Noah Davis, giving the Fisher Cats an early 1-0 lead. New Hampshire added on in the third inning as Ryan Gold belted a two-run homer to make it 3-0 Fisher Cats. Meanwhile, New Hampshire starter Paxton Schultz, who allowed a two-out single to Aaron Schunk in the first inning, was impressive and retired 14-in-a-row from the first through sixth innings.
The Yard Goats scored their first run in the sixth inning. Isaac Collins worked a walk and moved to second base on Hunter Stovall's sacrifice bunt. Schultz was pulled for reliever Sean Mellen, and Daniel Montano cracked a double to right field, scoring Collins to make it 3-1. But the Fisher Cats smashed their third homer as catcher Chris Bec took reliever Trent Fennell deep and it was 5-1 after seven innings.
Gabriel Ponce struck out the first two batters in the ninth before the Yard Goats rally. Michael Toglia reached on an infield hit and Brenton Doyle was hit by a pitch. Grant Lavigne followed with a hard-hit RBI single to center, scoring Toglia to make it 5-2. Sean Rackoski came in for Ponce, and Kyle Datres hit the first pitch into center field for a two-run single and Doyle and Lavigne scored to make it 5-4.
The Yard Goats conclude their six-game series on Sunday afternoon (1:35 PM) at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, New Hampshire. RHP Mitch Kilkenny will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Adam Kloffenstein will start for the Fisher Cats. The broadcast can be heard on AM 1410 WPOP and FM 100.9 and on the iheart radio app. The Yard Goats return to Dunkin' Donuts Park on Tuesday, July 12th (7:05 PM) and will host the Washington Nationals affiliate, the Harrisburg Senators.
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