Yard Goats Hit Back-To-Back Homers Thursday Night

Final: Portland 10, Hartford 5

WP: Matt Barnes (1-0)

LP: Tony Locey (0-2)

T- 3:13

A- 6,467

Hartford, Conn - Daniel Cope and Tyler Hill cracked back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning to cut into Portland's lead, but the Sea Dogs held on to beat the Hartford Yard Goats 10-5 in front of a sellout crowd Thursday night at Dunkin' Donuts Park. The Yard Goats dropped their second straight to the Sea Dogs and are 1 1/2 games back of first place. The Boston Red Sox sent three players to the Sea Dogs on Major League rehab assignments, and all three played a large role in Portland’s win. Left-hander Rich Hill started for the Sea Dogs and pitched three innings, allowed a home run to Isaac Collins, and recorded five strikeouts. Reliever Matt Barnes pitched a perfect inning for the win and registered two strikeouts. Infielder Christian Arroyo played second base and had an RBI single.

Portland struck first in the top of the second inning on an Elih Marrero sac fly off Hartford's starter, Tony Locey. The Yard Goats responded in the third when Isaac Collins cracked a solo shot off the Sea Dogs starter, Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill. Hill is on a major league rehab assignment and started his first game for Portland. The longball was Collins's fourth of the season, tying the game 1-1.

The Sea Dogs scored six unanswered runs, including five in the fourth, to extend their lead to 7-1. Red Sox pitcher, Matt Barnes, tossed a scoreless fourth inning for Portland. The UConn alum is on a major league rehab assignment and made his second appearance for the Sea Dogs.

The Yard Goats rallied in the seventh, scoring three runs of their own. Cope crushed a solo blast to the left field seats, his sixth of the season. Hill followed with his own longball to left-center, his third of the year, cutting Portland's lead to 7-3. The back-to-back homers by Cope and Hill were Hartford's first since July 6. With two outs in the frame, Michael Toglia singled to plate Cristopher Navarro, scoring the Yard Goats' fourth run. Hunter Stovall scored on a passed ball in the ninth, putting the Yard Goats behind 10-5.

The Yard Goats continue their homestand against the Red Sox affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs, on Friday night at 7:05. RHP Michael Baird will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Dylan Spacke will start for the Sea Dogs. The two squads will battle it out three more times, with the series concluding on Sunday afternoon.