Yard Goats hold off sliding Sox

Final: Hartford 6, Bowie 3

WP: Karl Kauffmann (3-1)

LP: Antonio Velez (0-4)

S- Gavin Hollowell (3)

T- 2:27

A- 1,012

Karl Kauffmann pitched 6 2/3 innings of one-hit baseball and Jack Blomgren homered, doubled twice and knocked in two runs, as the Hartford Yard Goats defeated the Bowie Baysox, 6-3 Wednesday night. It was Hartford's third straight victory and pushed the Yard Goats to a season-high seven games over .500 at 21-14. Hartford trails first place Somerset by 2 1/2 games. Bowie, losers of six straight, is now 13-20.

Bowie pitcher Dean Kremer, on a rehab assignment for the Baltimore Orioles, struck out five in pitching two scoreless innings to start the game, but the Yard Goats broke through in the third against reliever Antonio Velez on a home run over the left field wall by Blomgren, who just joined the club Tuesday from Spokane. Hartford added two runs in the fifth against Velez on a home run by Aaron Shunk, who had three hits, a two-out double by Blomgren and an RBI-single by Ezequiel Tovar.

Meanwhile Kauffmann, the Rockies' second round pick out of the University of Michigan in 2019, did not give up a hit until two outs in the fifth. He was lifted with two outs in the seventh inning, allowing one hit and no runs, walking three and striking out eight. He improved to 3-1.

The Baysox made it interesting, as they scored three runs in the eighth off of reliever Riley Pint, who walked the first two batters he faced. Cody Roberts followed with an RBI-single, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Orioles' prospect Gunner Henderson then added a two-run home run, his third homer in two games.

Hartford closed out the scoring in the ninth on a walk to Collins, a wild pitch, sacrifice bunt and an RBI groundout by Blomgren. Gavin Hollowell pitched around two base runners in the ninth to register his third save.

The Yard Goats continue a six-game series with the Orioles affiliate, the Bowie Baysox, on Thursday night at 6:35. RHP Noah Gotsis will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Conner Loeprich will start for the Baysox. The game will be broadcast on Newsradio 1410 WPOP. The Yard Goats return to Dunkin' Donuts Park on Tuesday, May 31st at 7:05 to host the Phillies affiliate, the Reading Fightin Phils.