Messina Homers in Yard Goats Loss
EL Hartford Yard Goats

Messina Homers in Yard Goats Loss

Published on May 13, 2026 under Eastern League (EL)
Hartford Yard Goats News Release


Hartford, CT - Cole Messina crushed a two-run home run but the Hartford Yard Goats fell to the Portland Sea Dogs 9-6 on Wednesday night at Dunkin' Park. The Yard Goats led 6-4 through seven innings, but two-run home runs from Tyler McDonough and Max Ferguson, and an RBI-double from Nate Baez capped a five-run eighth. Portland's bullpen did not allow a hit in the final four innings of the game, ending the Yard Goats five-game win-streak. Conner Capel had a pair of hits, including a three-RBI triple and scored a run.

Portland opened the scoring in the top of the first when Miguel Bleis hit an RBI-single off Yard Goats Eiberson Castellano, giving the Sea Dogs a 1-0 lead. Hartford responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI sac-fly from Bryant Betancourt, which came off Sea Dogs starter Gage Ziehl and tied the game at 1.

The Sea Dogs took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second when Max Ferguson laid down a bunt single that scored McDonough from second. Hartford took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning when Messina crushed a two-run home run to left field, his second of the season.

Portland tied the game at 3 in the top of the third when Bleis hit his second RBI-single of the game, scoring Nate Baez.

The Yard Goats took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of RBI-hits from Aidan Longwell and Conner Capel. Longwell's RBI-single scored Montgomery and gave Hartford a 4-3 lead, before Capel roped an RBI-triple into right field and extended the Yard Goats lead to 6-3.

The Sea Dogs cut the Yard Goats lead to 6-4 in the top of the seventh when Brooks Brannon hit a solo home run, his sixth of the season.

Portland tied the game at 6 in the top of the eighth when McDonough hit a two-run home run to left-center field. Two batters later, Ferguson hit a two-run home run to right field, giving the Sea Dogs an 8-6 lead. Baez hit an RBI-double to right field that extended Portland's lead to 9-6.

The Yard Goats continue their six game series against the Boston Red Sox affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday night at 7:10 pm. It's Yacht Rock Night with a Captain's Hat Giveaway!! LHP Sam Weatherly gets the start for the Yard Goats against RHP Blake Wehunt who will pitch for the Sea Dogs. The game will be televised on NESN+ and broadcast on the free Audacy app.

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WP: Patrick Halligan (1-0)

LP: Alberto Pacheco (0-2)

S: Cade Feeney (1)

Check out the Hartford Yard Goats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from May 13, 2026


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