Binghamton 2-4-1Hartford 5-9-0WP- Heath Holder (7-4)LP- Tony Dibrell (0-5)S- Scott Griggs (11)T- 2:27A- 6,850
Binghamton 2-4-1
Hartford 5-9-0
WP- Heath Holder (7-4)
LP- Tony Dibrell (0-5)
S- Scott Griggs (11)
T- 2:27
A- 6,850
HARTFORD- Playing as the River Hogs on "What If Night," Hartford used home runs by Chris Herrerra and Brian Serven to down the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, 5-2, before a standing-room-only crowd of 6,850 Sunday at Dunkin' Donuts Park. Hartford (22-27) is now 11-2 in deciding games of series this season after taking two-of-three from the New York Mets affiliate.
Hartford set a franchise record, playing before its 10th straight capacity crowd. It was also the ballclub's 40th sellout with 11 home dates remaining in 2019. The club has drawn 341,627. Hartford led the Eastern League in total attendance in 2018, drawing 408,942.
Heath Holder was the beneficiary of the River Hogs firepower. The right-hander from Loganville, GA improved to 7-4 with six innings of one-run baseball, a home run to Patrick Mazieka in the fourth that gave Binghamton (24-29) a 1-0 lead. He did not walk anybody and struck out six. After two innings of relief from Matt Whitehouse, closer Scott Griggs nailed down his 11th save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Hartford hogged the lead for good in the fifth inning off of Binghamton starter Tony Dibrell, when Carlos Herrera pulled a two-run homer into the right-field upper deck. It was his first AA home run. Holder then reached second on a single and error and scored on an RBI-single by Vance Vizcaino.
The River Hogs chased Dibrell in the sixth on a double by Bret Boswell and a two-run home run by Brian Serven below the video board in left field. Dibrell lasted 5 1/3 innings, permitting five runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out five in dropping to 0-5.
Herrera led Hartford's nine-hit attack with a homer, double and two RBI. Mazeika had two of Binghamton's four hits with a home run and single.
Following a day off on Monday, the Yard Goats open a four-game, three-day series at home against the Portland Sea Dogs on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Brandon Gold will pitch for Hartford against LHP Matthew Kent for the Red Sox affiliate. 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. It will be Hartford Steamed Cheeseburgers Night.
