Lavigne Homers in 10-run sixth, Pickles bounce Portland 14-6

Final: Hartford 14, Portland 6

WP: Evan Justice (1-0)

LP: Ryan Miller (0-2)

S: None

Hartford, CT– On the back of a franchise record 10-run sixth inning, the Hartford Bouncing Pickles (18-16) bounced the Portland Sea Dogs (24-11) 14-6 on Wednesday night at Dunkin’ Park. Instead of the Yard Goats, Hartford donned bright green uniforms transforming into the Bouncing Pickles for the only game this season.

After three innings, Hartford led 3-2. The Pickles used a Grant Lavigne RBI groundout and a Julio Carreras RBI single in the first inning to jump out to the early advantage. In the third, the Sea Dogs answered, cutting Pickles’ lead to just one. Two innings later, Portland used a Nick Yorke two-run home run to secure a two-run lead after five innings of play.

The sixth inning was the story of the ball game for Hartford. 14 Pickles’ batters piled up eight hits in an inning that ended 13-4 in favor of the home team. Nico Decolati’s double kicked things off, tying the game at four, scoring Warming Bernabel from third. Hunter Goodman followed suit four batters later, lining a double into left field to push another two runs across the plate.

For the second time in his 2023 season, New England native Grant Lavigne collected three RBI. The first baseman launched his fifth home run of the campaign off of Portland’s right-hander Jacob Webb to extend the Hartford lead to 9-4. His right-center field blast ties teammate Kyle Datres for second on the Yard Goats in that category. Lavigne’s two hits on Thursday night marked the seventh game in which he managed a multi-hit contest.

On the mound, the Pickles used four pitchers to punch out 13 batters. Right-hander Andrew Quezada started on the bump for Hartford, going five innings for the third time in 2023. Evan Justice and Fineas Del Bonta-Smith combined for 2.1 innings of relief, allowing no runs while striking out six in the process.

The Pickles found the scoreboard for the 14th and final time in the bottom of the eighth inning. Kyle Datres’ sacrifice fly scored Bernabel to tie a franchise record 14 runs in a game. Eight of the nine batters had at least one hit as all nine hitters crossed the plate throughout the historic night in Connecticut’s capital. The away side would score two runs in the top of the ninth inning, giving the Pickles a 14-6 triumph.

The Yard Goats host the Boston Red Sox affiliate, the Portland Dogs at Dunkin’ Park on Thursday (7:10 PM) in the third contest of this six-game series on Marvel Defenders of the Diamond Night. Former University of Miami right-hander Chris McMahon will start for the Yard Goats looking for his second triumph of the season. The game can be heard on AM 1410 WPOP, FM 100.9, and the iheart radio app.