Altoona 6- 7-1Hartford 7-11-0WP- Mitch Horacek (1-0)LP- Joel Cesar (1-2)S- Logan Cozart (5)T- 2:29A- 6,658
Altoona 6- 7-1
Hartford 7-11-0
WP- Mitch Horacek (1-0)
LP- Joel Cesar (1-2)
S- Logan Cozart (5)
T- 2:29
A- 6,658
HARTFORD- Vance Vizcaino's two-run double in the eighth inning helped lead the Hartford Yard Goats to a come-from-behind 7-6 victory over the Altoona Curve Friday night, before a sellout crowd of 6,658 at Dunkin' Donuts Park. It was the 20th sellout of the year in 34 dates. Hartford, which has drawn 195,214 for the season, will reach the 1,000,000 mark in attendance, when the 648th fan passes through the gates Saturday night. The lucky spectator will be showered with gifts.
Down 6-5 entering the eighth inning against reliever Joel Cesar, the Yard Goats mounted their comeback with a runner at first and two outs. Manny Melendez stroked a single to center and Vizcaino followed with a two-run double off the base of the wall in right-field. It was his third hit of the game, after he singled and homered.
Logan Cozart, Hartford's new closer with the promotion of Ben Bowden, recorded his fifth save with a perfect ninth, as Hartford snapped a four-game losing streak and won its first game (1-2) of the second half.
The Yard Goats fell behind, 6-5, in the see-saw battle on an RBI-double by Robbie Glendinning. Altoona had tied the game earlier in the frame on a Mitchell Tolman home run. The bullpen then settled down, as Jordan Foley, Scott Griggs, Mitch Horacek and Cozart retired the last 14 Curve batters, including eight on strike outs.
Vizcaino's home run, double, single and three RBI paced the Yard Goats 11-hit attack. Bret Boswell added a home run, single and had two runs scored. Tyler Nevin had a double and single and Alan Trejo belted his 10th home run of the season. Foley contributed a two-run double.
Bligh Madris slugged a two-run homer and had a run-scoring single for Altoona.
Game two of the series is Saturday at 6:05 PM. RHP Matt Dennis makes his debut for Hartford. RHP Pedro Vasquez goes for Altoona. The game will be broadcast on News Radio 1410 AM, on 100.9 FM, in Spanish on 1120 AM and on the Internet on newsradio1410.iheart.com and on MiLB.com.
