Michael Dominguez pitched well out of the bullpen for the Fisher Cats at Hartford on Thursday night. (File photo)

HARTFORD, Conn. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (1-2, 30-42) fell to the Hartford Yard Goats (2-1, 38-34) at Dunkin’ Park on Thursday night, 2-1. Fisher Cats designated hitter Jackson Hornung blasted his first career Double-A homer in the top of the first inning as the only New Hampshire run of the night in a game that lasted one hour and 54 minutes.

Playing in his third career Double-A game, the designated hitter Hornung belted a homer in the top of the first inning to give New Hampshire an early 1-0 lead. Hornung is now 7-for-12 and has reached in eight of his first 13 plate appearances for the Fisher Cats. It was Hornung’s fourth round tripper of the season after knocking three with High-A Vancouver.

Fisher Cats starter Grant Rogers (L, 1-4) fired his fourth quality start for the Fisher Cats since getting called up from High-A Vancouver on May 20. Rogers has reached the six-inning mark in four of his seven starts with the Fisher Cats. Rogers has held opponents to two earned runs or less in six of his seven starts with New Hampshire.

After Hornung’s blast, Hartford starter McCade Brown (W, 2-0) allowed a double to Fisher Cats first baseman Peyton Williams before retiring the next 13 batters he faced. Brown finished with six punchouts and surrendered one earned run on six hits to take the win.

New Hampshire turned to righty Michael Dominguez out of the bullpen for the seventh and eighth innings. Dominguez tallied four swinging strikeouts and allowed one hit for his seventh scoreless outing of the season.

In the bottom of the first inning, designated hitter Benny Montgomery singled off Rogers’ glove and cashed in third baseman Kyle Karros from third totie the score at 1-1. The Yard Goats added another run in the bottom of the third when catcher Bryant Betancourt skied a sacrifice fly to plate shortstop Jose Torres from third, and Hartford took control, 2-1.

Hartford relievers Carson Skipper threw two scoreless innings and Welinton Herrera (S, 2) tossed a six-out save to finalize the Goats’ 2-1 win.

New Hampshire and Hartford start the latter half of the six-game series at 7:10 p.m.on Friday. Fisher Cats starter Ryan Watson (4-4, 4.19 ERA) takes to the hill for his third start against the Goats this season, and right-hander Jack Mahoney (0-4, 7.14 ERA) gets the ball for Hartford from Dunkin’ Park.