Yard Goats Beat Fightins 7-2 in Reading, PA

August 15, 2018
Final: Hartford Yard Goats 7, Reading Fightin Phils 2  
WP: Rico Garcia (5-1)
LP: Felix Paulino (2-1)
SV: none
T: 2:28
ATT: 5,217

Yard Goats Beat Fightins 7-2 in Reading, PA    
Reading, PA- The Hartford Yard Goats beat the Reading Fightin Phils by the score of 7-2 on Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pennsylvania. Yard Goats starting pitcher Rico Garcia hurled five solid innings, had a hit and drove in two runs, while improving to 5-1 as Hartford won consecutive games for the first time in August. The Yard Goats scored three runs in the second inning and four runs in the fourth inning, and the seven runs are the most that Hartford has scored in a game since June 23rd. Roberto Ramos cranked his 11^th home run and Scott Burcham had three hits. The bullpen of Parker French, Brian Moran, Logan Cozart and Matt Pierpont retired 11 of 12 batters faced over the final four innings.
The Yard Goats scored three runs in the second inning off Reading starter Felix Paulino to take a 3-0 lead. Drew Weeks began the rally with a leadoff single and eventually scored the first run of the game on a passed ball. Nelson Molina's grounder scored Brandon Bednar and Rico Garcia helped himself out with an RBI single bringing home Molina to make it 3-0.
The Yard Goats added to their lead by scoring four runs in the third inning, the final frame for Paulino. Roberto Ramos started the inning with a bang as he homered over the right field fence, his 11^th homer since joining the Yard Goats. Scott Burcham and Omar Carrizales had RBI singles and Rico Garcia chipped in with a sacrifice fly.
Hartford starter Rico Garcia allowed two runs on three hits in five innings, including a pair of solo home runs by Deivi Grullon and Malquin Canelo. He registered five strikeouts over the first three innings. Garcia has two or fewer runs in six of his last seven starts.          
The Yard Goats continue their road trip and play the final of a three game series in Reading, PA on Thursday night (7:15 PM) in hopes of a series sweep. The last time the Yard Goats swept a three-game series was June 15-17 vs Binghamton. The game will be broadcast on AM 1410 WPOP and streamed on newsradio.1410.com and MiLB.com.