Yard Goats Tied for First Place with Victory in Somerset

WP- Noah Davis (5-4)

LP- Josh Maciejewski (4-1)

S- Gavin Hollowell (10)

T-2:34

A-4,371

Somerset, New Jersey- Michael Toglia homered, Ezequiel Tovar drove in the go-ahead run, and Noah Davis pitched the Yard Goats to a 3-2 victory over the Somerset Patriots in the first game of a winner take all six-game series at TD Bank Ballpark in Somerset, New Jersey. The victory pulled the Yard Goats into a tie with Somerset for first place in the division with five games remaining in the first half. The winner of the series will clinch the First Half of the Eastern League’s Northeast Division, and earn a spot in the playoffs in September. Toglia gave the Yard Goats a 2-1 lead with a rocket home run in the sixth inning off Yankees prospect Luis Medina. After the Patriots tied the game, Tovar ripped a two-out single, giving Hartford a 3-2 lead. Davis worked into the seventh inning to earn his fifth win, and Somerset native Gavin Hollowell pitched the ninth inning and recorded his 10th save. The Yard Goats have won 18 of their last 21 road games.

Somerset scored the first run of the game in the first inning as Elijiah Dunham hit a solo home run off Hartford starter Noah Davis. The right-hander settled down and retired nine in a row from the third through fifth innings.

The Yard Goats took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning on Michael Toglia’s two-run homer off Somerset starter Luis Medina. Tovar led off the inning with a single and later in the inning Toglia cranked a two-run homer over the right field fence. However, the Patriots tied the game as Yankees top prospect Anthony Volpe smashed a solo homer in the bottom of the inning.

The Yard Goats took the lead for good in the seventh inning off reliever Josh Maciejewski. Willie MacIver started the inning with a walk and stole second base. Tyler Hill followed with a single, but MacIver eventually got erased trying to score on an infield grounder. Tovar then cracked a two-out single to center field, scoring Hill and giving Hartford a 3-2 lead. Stephen Jones pitched 1.1 innings of relief and Gavin Hollowell struck out Jesus Bastidas to end the game and earned his team-leading 10th save.

The Yard Goats continue their six-game series on Wednesday night (7:05 PM) at TD Bank Ballpark in Somerset, NJ. RHP Karl Kauffmann will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Mitch Spence will start for the Patriots. The broadcast can be heard on AM 1410 WPOP and FM 100.9 and on the iheart radio app. The Yard Goats return to Dunkin’ Donuts Park on Tuesday, June 28th (7:05 PM) and will host the New York Mets affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

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