Yard Goats Drop Series Opener with Major Leaguer
Richmond, VA- The Hartford Yard Goats (72-61) were defeated by the Richmond Flying Squirrels (57-77) by the score of 4-0 on Monday night in the first of a four game series at The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia. Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Tyler Chatwood started for the Yard Goats on a Major League rehab assignment. Chatwood, who is 10-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 22 starts this season with the Rockies, was tagged with the loss but allowed only two unearned runs in 4.1 innings on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Richmond starter Tyler Beede was terrific and hurled a nine inning two-hit complete game shutout. The Worcester, Massachusetts native retired 15 of the first 16 batters and recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts. Dillon Thomas ripped his team leading 35th double in the second inning.
The Flying Squirrels scored a pair of unearned runs in the fourth inning on two Hartford errors to take a 2-0 lead. Christian Arroyo began the inning with a walk. After Tyler Chatwood struck out Hunter Cole, Chris Shaw reached on a fielding error on an infield grounder and Arroyo went to third. C.J. Hinojosa followed with an infield single scoring Arroyo and giving the Flying Squirrels a 1-0 lead. Then with two outs, Darin Ford hit a ground ball to the infield and the Yard Goats committed their second of the inning, a throwing mistake, allowing Chris Shaw to score and make it 2-0 Richmond.
Meanwhile Richmond starter Tyler Beede was terrific and retired 15 of the first 16 Flying Squirrels to bat. Hartford's only hit over the first eight inning was Dillon Thomas' leadoff double in the second. Beede then put together an impressive stretch of sitting down seven consecutive batters from the sixth through the eighth.
The Flying Squirrels added two runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back home runs off reliever Devin Burke. With one out, Chris Shaw connected on a line drive homer to right field, giving Richmond a 3-0 advantage. Next, C.J. Hinojosa cranked a long homer over the left field wall, as the teammates crack consecutive home runs and it was 4-0 Richmond.
The Yard Goats continue a four game series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Tuesday night (6:05 PM) at The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia. RHP Zach Jemiola will pitch for the Yard Goats. The game will be broadcast live on News Radio 1410 WPOP.