Yard Goats Begin Long Road Trip with a Loss    

*Reading 5, Hartford 2 *

WP- Branden Zarbnsky (3-1)

LP- Karl Kauffmann (0-4)

S- Brian Marconi (2)

T- 2:42

A-2,003

Reading, PA- Former Phillies first round pick Bryson Stott smashed two homers and doubled, leading the Reading Fightin Phils past the Hartford Yard Goats 5-2 on Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Reading shortstop cranked a solo home run in the first inning and then added a two-run blast in the third inning in the opening game of a six-game series. Yard Goats outfielder Manny Melendez ripped a two-run homer and relievers Will Gaddis, Tate Scioneaux and Yoan Aybar retired 12 of 13 batters faced in four hitless innings as Hartford was denied its third straight win.

Reading scored all five runs in the first three innings and relied on five pitchers to limit the Yard Goats to just two runs. It was the first game of a 12-game road trip, and the Yard Goats will return to Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford on June 22nd to host the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

The Fightins scored the first run of the game, two batters in, as Bryson Stott homered off Yard Goats starting pitcher Karl Kauffmann, his first one of the season. The home run went over the centerfield fence and gave Reading a 1-0 lead.

The Yard Goats had a great opportunity to score in the third inning as they loaded the bases with nobody out on a single, walk and bunt hit against Phillies starter Mark Appel. However, a shallow fly ball and a double play in which Matt Vierling threw out Todd Czinege trying to score would end the threat.

Meanwhile Reading put up four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-0 lead. Daniel Brito led off with a double and Stott followed with his second homer, a two-run shot to make it 3-0 Reading. Kauffmann walked the next two batters before getting two outs. But, Arquimedes Gamboa cracked a 2RBI double to make it 5-0 Fightins.

The Yard Goats, who out-hit Reading 6-5, got a two-run homer by outfielder Manny Melendez in the fourth inning to bring Hartford to within three runs at 5-2. Both bullpens were solid and Yard Goats relievers were nearly perfect, firing four hitless and shutout frames and retiring 12 of 13 batters faced with six strikeouts.

The Yard Goats will continue a 12-game road trip on Wednesday in Reading, Pennsylvania and play the second of a six-game series against the Fightin Phils (7:05PM). RHP Garrett Schilling will start for the Yard goats and RHP James McArthur will pitch for Reading. The game will be broadcast on AM 1410 WPOP and FM 100.9 FM and newsradio1410.iheart.com. The Yard Goats return to Dunkin’ Donuts Park on June 22 to host the Richmond Flying Squirrels at 7:05PM. Tickets are available on the website, yardgoatsbaseball.com.