Lavigne Leads Yard Goats to Victory with 9th Inning Home Run
June 16, 2023 - Eastern League (EL)
Hartford Yard Goats News Release
Reading, PA- Grant Lavigne smashed a two-run homer in the 9th inning to break a 5-5 tie, and lead the Hartford Yard Goats to a 8-5 come from behind victory against the Reading Fightin Phils on Friday evening at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pennsylvania. Hartford trailed 5-2 in the seventh inning and scored three runs in the seventh, and three more in the ninth to defeat the Fightins for the second time in three games. Lavigne drove in four of the Yard Goats eight runs and cranked his seventh homer of the season, an opposite field shot to left field. Reliever Evan Justice pitched a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 5-0 on the season.
The Yard Goats scored the first run of the game for the second straight night as Julio Carreras cracked an RBI single in the first inning, scoring Hunter Goodman, against Reading starter and Phillies prospect Griff McGarry. McGarry walked six batters in two innings, but the Yard Goats only managed two runs with the second one scoring on a sacrifice fly by Lavigne in the second inning to make it 2-0 Hartford.
The Fightins made it a 2-1 game in the second inning as Oliver Dunn hit a solo home run off Hartford starter Chris McMahon. Reading tied the game in the third inning on three singles and a walk with Johan Rojas driving home Cody Roberts to make it 2-2. Reading took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning when Dunn led off the inning with his second home run of the game.
Reliever Adam Leverett held the lead for Reading and retired nine of ten batters faced over three scoreless frames. The Fightin Phils made it 5-2 in the sixth inning as Herbert Iser hit a two-run home run.
However, the Yard Goats put together a rally in the seventh inning and tied the game. Cristopher Navarro started the inning with a double, and scored on Niko Decolati's RBI single to make it 5-3. Decolati scored on Lavigne's sacrifice fly, and Hunter Goodman came home to tie the game at 5-5 on a two-out run-scoring double by Bladimir Restituyo.
The Yard Goats broke the 5-5 tie with three more runs in the ninth inning off reliever Andrew Baker. Goodman led off with a walk and Lavigne followed with an opposite field home run, giving the Yard Goats a 7-5 lead. Hartford added a run on a two-out double by Drew Romo which scored Julio Carreras to make it 8-5.
The Yard Goats continue their road trip against the Reading Fightin Phils Saturday night (6:45 PM) at FirstEnergy Stadium. RHP Nick Garcia will start for the Yard Goats. The game will be broadcast on AM 1410, FM 100.9 and on the iheart radio app. The Yard Goats return home to Dunkin' Park next Tuesday (7:10 PM) to host the Erie SeaWolves.
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