Montano’s Go-Ahead Homer in 7th Leads Yard Goats to Victory

Final: Hartford 4, Reading 2

WP- Kilkenny (3-5)

LP- Bettencourt (0-2)

S- Hollowell (13)

T- 2:33

A- 5,376

Reading, PA- Daniel Montano cranked a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie, and help the Hartford Yard Goats to a 4-2 victory on Tuesday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pennsylvania. The victory improved the Yard Goats to a franchise-high 24 games above .500 (60-36) overall, and was their third straight win. Michael Toglia gave the Yard Goats a 1-0 lead with his 21st home run of the season, a solo shot in the second inning. He is now one home run away from tying the Hartford Yard Goats single-season homer record (Elehuris Montero 22 in 2021). Mitch Kilkenny hurled six solid innings with six strikeouts to earn the win, and relievers Jared Biddy, Stephen Jones and Gavin Hollowell combined for three scoreless frames.

The Yard Goats scored the first run of the game in the second inning as Michael Toglia led off the inning with a home run against Reading starter Noah Skirrow. Hartford made it 2-0 in the sixth inning as Niko Decolati’s infielder grounder scored Grant Lavigne. The Fightin Phils scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning off Yard Goats starter Mitch Kilkenny. After tossing five scoreless innings, Wendell Rijo had an RBI double and Aldrem Corredor tied the game with a sacrifice fly off the right-hander.

The Yard Goats took a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning as Daniel Montano belted a one-out solo homer over the right field fence off reliever Trevor Bettencourt. Hartford added a run in the eighth inning and Isaac Collins drove home Nick Decolani with single to right field, and it was 4-2.

Kilkenny worked six innings and allowed two runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Jared Biddy worked a scoreless seventh inning and got some help from his defense. Down 3-2, Reading’s Sal Gozzo tried to stretch a double into a triple and was thrown out at third base on a tremendous relay from right-fielder Nick Decolani, second baseman Isaac Collins to third baseman Christopher Navarro. Stephen Jones pitched the eighth and Gavin Hollowell registered his Eastern League-leading 13th save with a perfect ninth.

The Yard Goats play the second game of the six-game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 PM. RHP Tony Locey will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Mike Adams will start for the Fightins. The broadcast can be heard on AM 1410 WPOP and FM 100.9 and on the iheart radio app. The Yard Goats return home to Dunkin Donuts Park on Tuesday, August 16th to host the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.