EL1 Harrisburg Senators

Collier's Amazing Catch Clinches 4-3 Win

Published on July 12, 2018 under Eastern League (EL1)
Harrisburg Senators News Release


The Harrisburg Senators defeated the Hartford Yard Goats 4-3 Thursday night at FNB Field. Zach Collier sealed the victory by robbing Forrest Wall of a home run in the top of the ninth for the final out of the game.

"That was a fun game," Senators manager Matt LeCroy said. "I hope people at the park enjoyed it like we did."

Wall opened the scoring in the second with a two-run home run off Senators starter Logan Darnell to put the Yard Goats up a pair.

That lead was short lived as the Senators came back to take the lead in the bottom of the frame. Jake Noll and Alec Keller hit back-to-back doubles to start the inning to put the Senators on the board. One batter later, Osvaldo Abreu crushed a 1-1 pitch from Yard Goats starter Frank Duncan over the left field fence for his sixth home run of the season as the Senators took a 3-2.

Abreu added to the lead by driving in his third run with an RBI single in the fourth to score Keller, who doubled to leadoff the frame.

Hartford cut the lead to one with a run in the fifth on a run-scoring groundout by Brandon Bednar.

Darnell (5-4) worked six innings of three hit ball while limiting the Yard Goats to five hits and a walk. The left-hander has thrown three consecutive quality starts.

"(Darnell's) throwing more balls over for strikes and he's had a pretty mix (of pitches)," LeCroy said. "He did a nice job once we got the lead and kept us in it. Hopefully he'll continue to do what he's doing and give us a chance."

After Dakota Bacus and Roman Mendez tossed scoreless seventh and eighth innings, Ronald Pena came on to pitch the ninth. With the Yard Goats down to their final out, Forrest Wall hit a deep drive to right when Zach Collier leapt and reached over the fight field fence to rob Wall off a home run and seal the 4-3 victory.

"I got pretty excited," LeCroy said. "That's one of the top catches I've ever seen. He had to really get up to get to that ball and time it perfectly."

Hartford starter Frank Duncan took the loss after surrendering four runs in four innings. Pena earned his second save of the season with a perfect ninth.

Abreu finished 2-for-3 with a home run, double and three RBI to lead the Senators offense.

"Hopefully this night boosts his confidence," LeCroy said. "He's working every day with (Senators hitting coach Brian Rupp). Hopefully this will get him going"

The Senators and Yard Goats continue the series Friday night. Jaron Long gets the call for the Senators while Hartford counters with starter Evan Grills. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at FNB Field.

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Eastern League Stories from July 12, 2018


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