Crawford puts half-nelson on Goats as Thunder clinch

Trenton 8-11-1
Hartford 3- 5-0
WP: Chase Hodson (1-1)
LP: Evan Grills (3-5)
HR: Carrizales (4); Nunez (9); Perez (1); Crawford (2)
T- 2:57
A- 6,850

HARTFORD- Rashad Crawford's three-run home run in the fifth inning helped the Trenton Thunder clinch a playoff berth, as they downed the Hartford Yard Goats, 8-3, Sunday afternoon, before a capacity crowd of 6,850 at Dunkin' Donuts Park. The Yankees' affiliate also swept the three-game series from the Yard Goats (60-69) and won the season series, 7-4.
The sellout crowd was the 15th straight for the Yard Goats and the club's 43rd of the season. It was also the fifth straight capacity crowd. With four home dates remaining, Hartford has drawn 381,542.
Crawford sparked Trenton's four-run second inning with an RBI-single against losing pitcher Evan Grills. The Thunder collected five consecutive singles in the frame off Grills, who pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed eight runs on nine hits. Hartford's Omar Carrizales hit a two-run homer down the right-field line in the fourth off of starting pitcher Nick Nelson, to slice the Thunder advantage to three runs, before Crawford lowered the boom with his three-run shot.  
The hard-throwing Nelson was lifted after four innings. In the right-hander's second AA start, he gave up two runs - one earned - on three hits, but he threw 98 pitches. Chase Hodson, the first of three relievers, picked up his first win, as he tossed two scoreless innings and struck out three. 
Dom Nuñez had a home run and single to lead Hartford's offense. Brian Mundell added a double and a single. Trey Amburgey's three hits paced Trenton's 11-hit attack.
The Yard Goats open their final home series of the season Monday night at 7:05 against Binghamton, the New York Mets affiliate. The game will be televised on Vantage Sportsnet, broadcast on AM 1410 WPOP and streamed on newsradio1410.iheart.com and MiLB.com.