Montano's Late Home Run Fuels Yard Goats Comeback Win

Final: Hartford 4, Akron 3

WP: Riley Pint (1-0)

LP: Luis Oviedo (0-2)

SV: Hollowell (9)

T- 2:21

A- 6,850

Hartford, CT- Daniel Montano launched a game-tying home run and Ezequiel Tovar scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh as the Hartford Yard Goats came back to beat the Akron RubberDucks in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday night at Dunkin' Donuts Park. Michael Baird pitched six solid innings and Riley Pint and Gavin Hollowell worked three scoreless innings as the Yard Goats defeated the Cleveland affiliate for the second straight game. The Yard Goats improved to 40-22, which is the best start in franchise history.

Akron opened the scoring on a solo home run by Eric Rodriguez off Hartford's starter Michael Baird. The Yard Goats responded quickly, scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Ezequiel Tovar lined an RBI single into center field scoring Isaac Collins, who led off the inning with a walk and stolen base. A single later in the inning by Michael Toglia knocked Akron's starter Tanner Burns out of the game. With the bases loaded, Tovar came home on a wild pitch to put Hartford in front 2-1.

The RubberDucks jumped back in front 3-2 in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by Raynel Delgado. That was all Baird would allow, spinning six innings of three run ball while striking out a season high eight batters. Riley Pint picked up where Baird left off, keeping Akron off the board in his two innings of relief.

Hartford fought its way back to retake the lead in the seventh. Daniel Montano cracked a solo shot to left field to tie the game up at three, his second straight game with a homer. Tovar walked and Jimmy Herron lined a single to center, setting up runners at the corners. Tovar raced home to score the go-ahead run after a RubberDucks wild pitch, putting the Yard Goats in front 4-3. Hartford's closer Gavin Hollowell slammed the door on Akron in the ninth with a perfect 1-2-3 inning.

The Yard Goats wrap up their homestand against the Guardians affiliate, the Akron RubberDucks on Sunday afternoon at 1:05. LHP Nick Bush will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Gavin Williams will start for the RubberDucks. The game will be broadcast on Newsradio 1410 WPOP.