Yard Goats Rally Comes Up Just Short

Final: Portland 7, Hartford 6

WP: Matt Barnes (2-0)

LP: Michael Baird (3-2)

S: Joan Martinez (2)

T- 3:00

A- 6,850

Hartford, Conn - Kyle Datres stood on first base representing the tying run in the bottom of the ninth, but the Portland Sea Dogs held off the Hartford Yard Goats, 7-6, in front of a seventh straight sellout crowd Friday night at Dunkin' Donuts Park. Datres tallied three hits, extending his hit streak to 11 games. Boston Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes allowed one run in the fourth inning for Portland, and registered the win for the second consecutive game in Hartford. Hartford recorded 13 hits, and every Yard Goats player reached base at least once.

Portland opened the scoring in the top of the first inning on back-to-back homers by Ceddanne Rafaela and Stephen Scott off Hartford's starter Michael Baird. The Yard Goats got one back in the bottom of the frame when Hunter Stovall singled and raced home on a wild pitch by Portland's starter, Dylan Spacke. Hartford's shortstop cut the Sea Dogs' lead to 2-1.

The Red Sox affiliate added three more runs in the second. The Yard Goats did damage in the fourth off Red Sox pitcher and UConn alum Matt Barnes, who was on a Major League rehab assignment. Datres lined a double to right-center field, extending his hit streak to 11 games. Datres stole third and came home on an Isaac Collins groundout, narrowing Portland's lead to 5-2.

The Yard Goats rallied for two runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth. Stovall led off the frame with a single, and Grant Lavigne followed with a double. Aaron Schunk stepped up and singled to score Stovall. Brenton Doyle joined the hit parade with a single to drive in Lavigne, getting Hartford within a run.

The Sea Dogs responded with two runs in the sixth on a homer by Wil Dalton, extending their lead to 7-4. The Yard Goats got within a run in the seventh. Schunk's second RBI single scored Hartford's fifth run, and an RBI single by Datres cut Portland's lead to 7-6.

The Yard Goats continue their homestand against the Red Sox affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs, on Saturday night at 6:05. RHP Noah Davis will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Brian Van Belle will start for the Sea Dogs. The two squads will face off two more times, concluding on Sunday afternoon.