Yard Goats Drop Game 1 of Six-Game Series vs Sea Dogs 

Final: Portland 14, Hartford 1

WP: Chih-Jung Liu (4-2)

LP: Mike Ruff (0-2)

S: None

Hartford, CT– In the first game of a six-game series between two of the top three teams in the Eastern League, the Hartford Yard Goats (17-16) fell 14-1 to the Portland Sea Dogs (23-11) at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford, CT. Portland’s first-basemen Niko Kavadas wasted no time at the plate, launching two home runs in his first two at-bats on Tuesday night. It was his third long ball in the last three games. Hartford’s left-fielder Zac Veen extended his hit streak to 10 consecutive games with a line-drive single in the first. Shortstop Bret Boswell built off of his successful road trip in Binghamton, and added two hits.

On the mound, the Red Sox affiliate’s right-hander Chih-Jung Liu kept the home side off the scoreboard for 5.2 innings, allowing just four hits while striking out eight batters for the third time this campaign.

Portland got an early lead in the first inning on Niko Kavadas’ two-run home run off Hartford starter Mike Ruff. In the third inning, the Sea Dogs increased their lead on another blast by Kavadas who sent a 3-0 pitch over the right-center field wall. It was 5-0 Portland after three innings. The Sea Dogs added six runs in the fifth inning highlighted by a home run from Alex Binelas.

Hartford got on the scoreboard in the seventh inning. Back-to-back singles by Boswell and Warming Bernabel put Bladimir Restityo up in an RBI situation. The team leader in hits delivered, lining a single into center field, scoring Bernabel from second.

In his first game in Hartford this season, right-hander Jacob Kostyshock came in for the ninth inning, and struck out two in a scoreless inning (0H 1BB).

The Yard Goats host the Boston Red Sox affiliate, the Portland Dogs at Dunkin’ Park on Wednesday (7:10 PM) in the second of this six-game series. RHP Andrew Quezada will start for the Yard Goats and Wyatt Olds will start for Portland. The game can be heard on AM 1410 WPOP, FM 100.9, and the iheart radio app.