Yard Goats Win in Extras to Take Five of Six Games in Portland
Published on August 13, 2023 under Eastern League (EL)
Hartford Yard Goats News Release
Portland, ME - The Hartford Yard Goats beat the Portland Sea Dogs for the fifth time in six games with a 10-inning 4-3 victory on Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine. Grant Lavigne broke the 3-3 tie with a grounder that got by first baseman Tyler Esplin in the 10th, allowing Drew Romo to score the go-ahead run. Hartford's bullpen continued to dominate with 5.2 scoreless innings, and a double play to end the game with a runner at third base. The Yard Goats improved to 6-1 in extra innings in the second half of the season.
The Yard Goats took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second inning against Red Sox prospect and Sea Dogs starter Wikelman Gonzalez. The right-hander struck out four of the first five batters before Sterlin Thompson singled with two outs in the second inning. Warming Bernabel followed with a single and Drew Romo singled, scoring Thompson and giving Hartford a 1-0 lead. Bernabel scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.
The Sea Dogs scored their first run in the second inning as Elih Marrero doubled home Matthew Lugo to make it a 2-1 game against Yard Goats starting pitcher Case Williams. The righty put up zeros over the next two innings.
Hartford made it a 3-1 game with a run in the third inning. Again, Gonzalez struck out the first two batters of the inning before Jordan Beck walked and stole second base. Yanquiel Fernandez then cracked an RBI single to right field, scoring Beck and giving Hartford a 3-1 edge.
The Sea Dogs tied the game with two runs in the fifth inning. Corey Rosier led off with a single and Brainer Bonaci doubled, setting the table for Tyler McDonough whose sacrifice made it 3-2. Later in the inning, Blaze Jordan doubled and Bonaci scored and tied the game at 3-3.
The Yard Goats bullpen of Juan Mejia (1.2 IP), Bryce McGowan (1 IP), Stephen Jones (2 IP) and Austin Kitchen (1 IP) would be lights out, tossing 5.2 scoreless frames. The Yard Goats took a 4-3 lead in the 10th inning, as Grant Lavigne hit a ground ball by Sea Dogs first baseman Tyler Esplin and into right field, allowing the automatic runner Drew Romo to score from third base. Kitchen closed out the game, and got Nick Yorke to hit into an unassisted game ending double play with a liner to third baseman Warming Bernabel.
The Yard Goats return home to Dunkin' Park for their next homestand on Tuesday, August 15th (7:10 PM) to host the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. The game will be broadcast on AM 1410, FM 100.9 and on the iheart radio app.
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Final: (10 innings) Hartford 4, Portland 3
WP- Stephen Jones (1-1)
LP- Wyatt Olds (0-4)
S- Austin Kitchen (2)
T- 2:33
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