Yanquiel Fernandez Homers But Yard Goats Win Streak Snapped

Yanquiel Fernandez Homers But Yard Goats Win Streak Snapped

Final: Somerset 5, Hartford 3

WP: Bailey Deeds (1-1)

LP: Connor Van Scoyoc (0-1)

S: Jack Neely (2)

T: 2:22

Somerset, NJ- Yanquiel Fernandez belted his first home run of the season, a three run shot in the fourth inning, but it was not enough as the Somerset Patriots defeated the Hartford Yard Goats 5-3 on Thursday night at TD Bank Ballpark in Somerset, New Jersey. Somerset starter Bailey Deeds pitched six innings and had nine strikeouts to earn the win and stop Hartford’s four game win-streak. Benny Mongomery had two hits to extend his hitting streak to eight games and Zach Kokoska had a pair of hits for Hartford. The Yard Goats bullpen fired four scoreless innings.

Somerset scored three runs in the first inning off Hartford starter Connor Van Scoyoc. The Yard Goats righty struck out the first batter of the game but then loaded the bases on a walk and two singles. JC Escarra cracked an RBI single to left field, scoring Agustin Ramirez to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead. Ben Cowles followed with a bases loaded walk and Grant Richardson contributed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0 Patriots after one inning.

After hurling a 1-2-3 second inning, Van Scoyoc surrendered a leadoff home run to Ben Rice in the third inning and a solo homer to JC Escarra two batters later. It was 5-0 Somerset after three innings.

Patriots starter Bailey Deeds got off to a nice start and allowed just one hit and recorded four strikeouts over the first three innings. However, the Yard Goats got to him in the fourth inning. Sterlin Thompson and Benny Montgomery put together back-to-back hits and Yanquiel Fernadez followed with a line drive home run to left field, making it a 5-3 game. Deeds worked six innings and registered nine strikeouts.

The Yard Goats had some promise to start the seventh inning off reliever Ryan Anderson. Zach Kokoska led off with a double and AJ Lewis followed with an infield hit putting runners at the corners with nobody out and Hartford trailing 5-3. However, Kokoska got erased at the plate trying to score on a ground ball and Hartford failed to score.

Hartford relievers Evan Shawver, Blake Goldsberry and Seth Halvorsen fired four scoreless innings in relief.

The Yard Goats continue the series against the Somerset Patriots on Friday night at 6:35 PM. LHP Carson Palmquist will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Trystan Vrieling will pitch for the Patriots. The broadcast can be heard on the free audacy app and Yard Goats website starting at 6:20 with the pregame show. The video stream will be available on MLB.TV and MiLB.TV and the Ballys Live App. The Yard Goats return to Dunkin’ Park in Hartford for a six-game homestand starting next Tuesday, April 23^rd and will host the Red Sox affiliate, Portland Sea Dogs.