Goodman & Lavigne Combine for 7 RBI in Yard Goats Victory

*Final: Hartford 9, Altoona 6 *

WP: Fineas Del Bonta-Smith (2-0)

LP: Matt Eckleman (0-2)

S: Dugan Darnell (4)

Altoona, PA- Hunter Goodman and Grant Lavigne combined for 7 RBI as the Hartford Yard Goats beat the Altoona Curve 9-6 on Friday night at People’s Natural Gas Field in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Goodman cranked his Eastern League leading 15^th home run, a three-run blast in the fifth inning and added an RBI single. Lavigne had a pair of hits, including a 2 RBI ground rule double, and scored twice helping the Yard Goats end a season-high six-game losing streak. Hartford relievers Austin Kitchen and Dugan Darnell retired the final nine batters to hold the lead.

The Curve had a 5-4 lead before the Yard Goats scored five runs in the sixth inning off knuckleballer Matt Eckelman. Hartford loaded the bases on two walks and a single, and tied the game as Bladimir Restituyo was hit by a pitch forcing Bret Boswell home to make it 5-5. Grant Lavigne followed with a rocket double that hit the warning track and bounced over the fence, scoring Niko Decolati and Caleb Simpson and gave the Yard Goats a 7-5 lead. After Restituyo scored on a passed ball, Hunter Goodman finished the rally with a run-scoring single to make it a 9-5 game.

The Yard Goats scored the first run of the game on Grant Lavigne’s RBI single in the first inning, scoring Bladimir Restityo, off Altoona starter Tahnaj Thomas. The Curve tied the game in the bottom of the inning as Matt Fraizer homered off Hartford starter Case Williams. The Pirates affiliate took a 2-1 lead on Drew Maggi’s RBI single in the second inning. The Yard Goats went in front 4-2 as Hunter Goodman blasted a three-run homer in the fifth inning. Altoona regained the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by a 2 RBI double by Matt Fraizer. However, the Yard Goats took the lead for good with the five-run fifth inning.

The Yard Goats continue their two-city 12-game road trip on Saturday night at 6:00, and play the fifth of a six-game series against the Altoona Curve. RHP Andrew Quezada will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Jared Jones will pitch for the Curve. The game can be heard on AM 1410 WPOP, FM 100.9 and the iheart radio app. The Yard Goats return home to Dunkin’ Park on Tuesday, June 6th (7:10 PM), and host the New York Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, for a six-game series.