Perez Lifts Goats to Win
EL Hartford Yard Goats

Perez Lifts Goats to Win

Published on August 18, 2026 under Eastern League (EL)
Hartford Yard Goats News Release


Hartford, CT - Andy Perez smashed a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth and Jacob Humphrey recorded his first Double-A hit and RBI as the Hartford Yard Goats defeated the Somerset Patriots 6-5 on Tuesday night at Dunkin' Park. The game was tied 5-5 before Perez's eighth home run of the season landed in the second deck of the right field seats and gave the Yard Goats a 6-5 lead. WIth two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Yard Goats catcher Cole Messina threw out DJ Gladney as he was trying to steal second to secure the win. Yard Goats reliever Hunter Mann pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth to earn his first Double-A win

Braylen Wimmer opened the scoring for the Yard Goats in the bottom of the second when he crushed a solo home run off Patriots starter Sean Paul Linan, giving Hartford a 1-0 lead.

The Patriots responded by scoring three runs off Yard Goats starter Konner Eaton in the top of the third. First, Omar Alfonzo hit an RBI-single that scored Roderick Arias and tied the game at 1. Alfonzo scored on a balk from Eaton, giving Somerset a 2-1 lead. Manny Palencia capped the scoring for Somerset with a sac-fly to center field, increasing the Patriots lead to 3-1.

Hartford answered in the bottom of the third when GJ Hill roped an RBI-double to right field, cutting the Somerset lead to 3-2.

Hartford scored a pair of runs to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Perez started things off with an RBI-double to right field, tying the game at 3. Then, Humphrey recorded his first Double-A RBI when he cranked an RBI-double to left field, giving the Yard Goats a 4-3 lead.

Somerset retook the lead in the top of the fifth when Palencia hit a two-run double to right field, giving the Patriots a 5-4 lead. The Yard Goats scored in the bottom of the eighth when Jared Thomas scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at 5.

The Yard Goats took the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Perez crushed his eighth home run of the season to the second deck in right field, giving Hartford a 6-5 lead.

The Yard Goats continue their six game series against the New York Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots on Wednesday night at 7:10 pm. It's Faith and Family Day! LHP Stu Flesland III gets the start for the Yard Goats. The game will be streamed on MiLB.tv and the free Bally Sports app and broadcast on the free Audacy app.

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WP: Hunter Mann (1-1)

LP: Kelly Austin (4-2)

Check out the Hartford Yard Goats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from August 18, 2026


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