Portland Splits Series in Sunday Loss
Hartford, Connecticut – Bryan Mata struck out seven batters and Nick Northcut hit his second Double-A home run, but the Portland Sea Dogs (47-49, 17-10) dropped the series final 5-3 to the Hartford Yard Goats (59-36, 16-10) on Sunday at Dunkin’ Donuts Park. The scoring started in the top of
Hartford, Connecticut – Bryan Mata struck out seven batters and Nick Northcut hit his second Double-A home run, but the Portland Sea Dogs (47-49, 17-10) dropped the series final 5-3 to the Hartford Yard Goats (59-36, 16-10) on Sunday at Dunkin’ Donuts Park.
The scoring started in the top of the second inning for the Sea Dogs. Kole Cottam led off with a double. One out later, Nick Northcut crushed a two-run homer to right field. It was his second Double-A homer and gave the Sea Dogs a 2-0 lead.
Hartford entered the scoring column in the bottom of the third. With two outs in the inning, Daniel Montano sent a solo homer over the wall in right-center. It was his ninth home run of the season and cut into Portland’s lead, 2-1.
The Yard Goats benefited from their second homer of the day when Daniel Cope hit a solo bomb in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game 2-2. Hartford added another run in the bottom of the sixth on a solo homer by Aaron Schunk, giving them their first lead of the day, 3-2.
A run came around to score for the Yard Goats in the bottom of the seventh. Cope worked a one-out walk and Isaac Collins doubled, putting runners at second and third. Montano came through with an RBI base hit, adding to Hartford’s lead, 4-2.
Portland got back on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth frame. Ceddanne Rafaela collected a one-out base hit and Christian Koss doubled, placing runners at second and third. Hudson Potts grounded out to first base, bringing in Rafaela to make it a 4-3 game. Hartford added their final run of the day on another RBI from Cope, this time on a single, and the Sea Dogs went down in order in the ninth inning, losing to the Yard Goats 5-3.
Will Gaddis (4-0, 4.85 ERA) picked up the win, tossing 2.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out two. Bryan Mata (1-2, 2.16 ERA) was given his second loss of the season, surrendering three runs on five hits, walking one, and striking out seven.
The Sea Dogs enjoy a league-wide off day on Monday before starting a series with the Erie Sea Wolves on Tuesday at Hadlock Field.