WP: Logan Cozart (4-1)LP: Leandro Linares (2-2)S: Matt Pierpont (11)HR: Phillips (2,3), Rodgers (9), Marabell (6), Loopstok (6)T- 3:16A- 6,504
WP: Logan Cozart (4-1)
LP: Leandro Linares (2-2)
S: Matt Pierpont (11)
HR: Phillips (2,3), Rodgers (9), Marabell (6), Loopstok (6)
T- 3:16
A- 6,504
HARTFORD, CT- Brendan Rodgers' three-run home run in the seventh inning lifted the Hartford Yard Goats to a wild 13-10 win over the Akron Rubber Ducks Sunday afternoon, before a sellout crowd of 6,504. It was the third straight sellout crowd at Dunkin' Donuts Park and the three weekend games drew 19,805. Anthony Phillips added two home runs and knocked in five runs and Sam Tidaback had three hits and three RBI, as Hartford (23-20) scored a season high in runs and tied a season-high in hits with 16. The Yard Goats earned a split of the four-game series against the Cleveland Indians affiliate.
Yard Goats' relievers Logan Cozart and Matt Pierpont restored order, after the Goats blew a 6-0 lead. The two combined to retire the last nine Akron batters, with Pierpont registering his league-leading 11th save and Cozart improving to 4-1.
Hartford jumped out to a 6-0 first inning lead on a sacrifice fly by Rodgers, a three-run home run by Phillips and a two-run double by Tidaback. Akron erupted for five runs in the third inning, chasing starter Ryan Castellani, who allowed five runs on only two hits, but walked five.
The Yard Goats led 8-5 after three innings on RBI-singles by Tidaback and Yonathan Daza, but Akron(24-19) tied it with three runs in the fifth inning on home runs by Connor Marabell and Sicnarf Loopstock. After the Rubber Ducks took a 9-8 lead in the sixth, the Goats rallied on Phillips' second home run of the game a two-run shot to make it 10-9. Akron tied it again in the seventh, setting the stage for Rodgers' three-run upper deck blast.
Every Hartford player had at least one hit, led by Phillips, who had two home runs and five RBI, with his father in attendance from his native South Africa. Tidaback, making his first start, doubled, had two singles and three RBI, while Rodgers' had a home run and four RBI. Omar Carrizales, Sam Hilliard, Ryan Metzler and Chris Rabago each had two hits. Marabell had a home run, double, single and three RBI for Akron, while Jorma Rodriguez added three hits and two RBI.
Following a day off, the Yard Goats open an eight-game, seven-day road trip in Portland, ME on Tuesday night at 6:00. RHP Jesus Tinoco will pitch for Hartford against LHP Kyle Hart for the Red Sox affiliate. The game will be broadcast on AM 1410 WPOP and streamed on newsradio.1410.com and MiLB.com.
