HARTFORD - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats overcame stout relief pitching from the Hartford Yard Goats to beat the Colorado Rockies affiliate 4-3 in eleven innings at Dunkin' Donuts Park on Friday night.

The Fisher Cats struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Bo Bichette started the frame with a single - his second

in his first two at-bats - then advanced to second after Jonathan Davis walked on four pitches. After a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. delivered an RBI groundout to make it 1-0 'Cats. Lourdes Gurriel followed with a two-out single to plate Davis and give New Hampshire a 2-0 advantage.

After being held scoreless by Fisher Cats starter Jordan Romano through the first three innings, Hartford tied the game in the fourth. Top Colorado Rockies prospect Brendan Rogers uncorked a solo shot to left field to start the frame and Sam Hilliard followed with a solo homer of his own two batters later to tie the game 2-2.

Romano's final line: 5 IP / 4 H / 2 ER / 1 BB / 6 SO

Danny Young made his 2018 debut and tossed two scoreless innings in relief of Romano. Andrew Case twirled a perfect eighth and Zach Jackson (W, 1-0) worked around a couple of walks in the ninth and struck out the side in the tenth to keep the game tied at two.

The Fisher Cats took the lead in the eleventh thanks in part to the new extra innings rule that puts a runner at second to start each bonus frame. With Jonathan Davis at second, Guerrero was asked to bunt and laid down the first sacrifice of his professional career. Lourdes Gurriel followed with an RBI triple - his first as a pro - and Cavan Biggio plated the eventual winning run with an RBI double that made it 4-2.

Conor Fisk (S, 1) allowed an unearned run in the eleventh but faced the minimum to secure a 4-3 'Cats triumph, his second career save.

Vlad Guerrero, Jr.: 0-2, 2 BB, RBI, sacrifice bunt
Bo Bichette: 2-5, R, SB
Cavan Biggio: 2-5, RBI

Game three of the four-game set is scheduled for Saturday night in Hartford. RHP Nick Tepesch will make his Fisher Cats debut while RHP Jesus Tinoco gets the nod for the Yard Goats. Coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. Listen live on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network.


Posted 4/7/18