Grant Lavigne Blasts 3-run Homer in Loss

*Final: Richmond 5, Hartford 4 *

WP- Matt Olson (1-1)

LP- Fineas Del Bonta-Smith (2-2)

S- Tyler Myrick (4)

T- 2:30

Hartford, CT- Yard Goats slugger Grant Lavigne smashed a game tying three-run home run in the sixth inning, but Richmond’s Logan Wyatt answered with a go-ahead solo shot in the seventh, as the Flying Squirrels defeated Hartford 5-4 on Wednesday night at Dunkin’ Park.

Richmond took a 1-0 lead with a run in the first inning off Yard Goats starter Mike Ruff. The Flying Squirrels made it 3-0 on Victor Bericoto’s two-run homer in the second inning. Ruff retired the final eight batters faced in his four-inning effort. Flying Squirrels starter Ryan Murphy hurled five scoreless innings with four strikeouts and left with a 4-0 lead.

Trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning the Yard Goats rallied to tie the game off reliever Matt Olson. Sterlin Thompson reached on an error and Jordan Beck followed with a double. Kyle Datres then singled home Thompson to make it a 4-1 game. Grant Lavigne followed with a long home run into the second deck in deep right center field, a three-run blast, tying the game at 4-4.

However, Logan Wyatt belted a solo home run over the right field fence in the seventh inning to give Richmond a 5-4 lead. The Yard Goats had runners on base in each of the last three innings but did not score.

The Yard Goats continue a 13-game homestand on Thursday evening (7:10 PM) against the Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants affiliate). LHP Carson Palmquist will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Carson Seymour will pitch for the Flying Squirrels. The game will be broadcast on AM 1410, FM 100.9 and on the iheart radio app.