Hartford 5-9-1Portland 3-7-2WP: Sean Nolin (1-0)LP: Josh Taylor (0-1)S: Matt Pierpont (12)HR: Rodgers (10), Tendler (5)T- 2:35 (:38 delay)
Hartford 5-9-1
Portland 3-7-2
WP: Sean Nolin (1-0)
LP: Josh Taylor (0-1)
S: Matt Pierpont (12)
HR: Rodgers (10), Tendler (5)
T- 2:35 (:38 delay)
PORTLAND, ME- For the second straight game, Colorado Rockies' top prospect Brendan Rodgers hit what turned out to be the game-winning home run, as the Hartford Yard Goats defeated the Portland Sea Dogs, 5-3, Tuesday night at Hadlock Field. The game was delayed by rain at the start for 38 minutes. Rodgers turned around a 94.2 MPH fastball from left handed pitcher Josh Taylor and smashed the two-run shot off the video board in left-center. The ball traveled 412 feet and had an exit speed of 103,4 MPH. It was Rodgers' 10th home run this season and third against the Sea Dogs.
The win was Hartford's eighth straight against Portland and 10th in 12 games this season. The result also made a winning pitcher of Sean Nolin, in his Yard Goats' debut. The southpaw pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowed one hit, one walk and struck out two. Matt Pierpont closed it out for his league-leading 12th save.
Hartford jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning, thanks to some shoddy defense on the part of the Red Sox affiliate. After Scott Burcham opened the frame with a double down the left field line, Chris Rabago reached first base on a sacrifice, when the catcher dropped the bunt. Burcham scored, when the first baseman dropped a ground ball by Omar Carrizales and the Yard Goats wrapped up the scoring with an RBI-double by Yonathan Daza and a sacrifice fly by Brendan Rodgers.
Meanwhile, Yard Goats starting pitcher Jesus Tinoco threw five innings, allowed only four hits, struck out seven and did not walk anybody. The only run he surrendered was on a lead off home run by Luke Tendler in the fifth inning.
Portland tied the game in the seventh inning with only one hit. A third strike wild pitch with one out starting the uprising. A single by Tendler, a hit batsman, fielder's choice ground out and bases loaded walk enabled the tying runs to score.
In addition to Rodgers' home run, Daza had a double, two singles and an RBI. Scott Burcham and Sam Hilliard each had a double and single. Tendler paced the Sea Dogs with a home run and single.
Game two of the series is Wednesday night at 6:00. RHP Peter Lambert will pitch for the Yard Goats against LHP Matt Kent for Portland. The game will be broadcast on AM 1410 WPOP and streamed on newsradio.1410.com and MiLB.com.
