HARTFORD, Conn. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (1-3, 30-43) lost their third game of the week to the Hartford Yard Goats (3-1, 39-34) at Dunkin’ Park on Friday night, 3-1 despite New Hampshire starter Ryan Watson tossing his team-leading sixth quality start of the season by holding the Goats to two runs on five hits in six innings of work.

Making his third start against the Yard Goats this season, New Hampshire’s Watson (L, 4-5) surrendered eight earned runs in 10 innings pitched across his two previous starts against Hartford on May 10 and May 28. Reliever Justin Kelly notched a strikeout and allowed a solo home run with two outs in the seventh and righty Geison Urbaez lowered his earned run average to 2.30 after firing a scoreless bottom of the eighth.

New Hampshire is 2-for-25 with runners in scoring position in Hartford.

New Hampshire third baseman Ryan McCarty singled and doubled to go 2-for-4, while left fielder Jackson Hornung and center fielder Devonte Brown collected the other two New Hampshire hits. Hornung brought his hit tally to eight and has poked a hit in each of his first four games. Since getting promoted from High-A Vancouver on June 24, Hornung is 8-for-16 with a double and a homer.

Hartford starter Jack Mahoney (W, 1-4) held the Cats’ offense scoreless and surrendered three hits to take the win. Carlos Torres took over after Mahoney and dealt two innings with one earned run on two hits. Righty reliever Brayan Castillo (S, 8) took care of the eighth and ninth innings, surrendering one walk and punching out two batters and locked up Hartford’s 3-1 win.

A walk, single and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for the Goats in the bottom of the second inning before second baseman Dyan Jorge was plunked by a pitch to give the Goats a 1-0 advantage. With the bases still loaded, designated hitter Ronaiker Palma grounded into a fielder’s choice that brought home Hartford’s second run to stretch the score to 2-0.

The Fisher Cats’ lone run scored on an inning-ending double play in the top of the sixth inning. The inning began on singles from Hornung and McCarty before a fielder’s choice groundout put runners on first and third. Second baseman Eddinson Paulino then chopped a ground ball to first base, allowing Hartford to turn a double play while Hornung scored from third to make it a 2-1 game.

The Yard Goats added one more run on first baseman Kyle Karros’ home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to finalize the scoring at 3-1.

The Fisher Cats and Yard Goats continue their series with a 6:10 p.m. first pitch on Saturday night. New Hampshire’s Devereaux Harrison (5-5, 4.38 ERA) gets the ball against Hartford’s Connor Staine (1-5, 4.29 ERA) in the fifth game of the six-game set at Dunkin’ Park.