Long Ball Powers Yard Goats Past Fightins for Series Split

BOX SCORE

(Reading, PA) - A five home run outburst from the Hartford Yard Goats powered them to a 14-5 victory over the Reading Fightin Phils on Sunday afternoon. The win for Hartford gave the teams a split in this week's six-game series.

Hartford right hander Gabriel Hughes returned for his second start of the series and had a strong bounce back. After allowing ten runs on Tuesday, Hughes responded with 5.1 inning of work and earning the win. The win for Hughes was the first victory for a Yard Goats starting pitcher since Apr. 29 at New Hampshire, when Chris McMahon earned a victory.

Fightin Phils pitcher Victor Vargas also made the start Sunday afternoon, his second appearance of the series versus Hartford. The Yard Goats got after Vargas early in the game. After a walk from Julio Carreras in the second, Jack Blomgren smashed his first home run in a Yard Goats uniform to make it 2-0 Hartford.

Hartford's home runs continued in the third inning. After a walk to Grant Lavigne, Bladimir Restituyo crushed a two-run home run to make it 4-0 Hartford in the third.

Hartford extended its lead in the top of the fourth. Bret Boswell and Blomgren started the inning off with back-to-back singles. Colin Simpson quickly clearedthe bases with another home run off of Victor Vargas to make it 7-0 in favor of the Yard Goats.

Jake Thompson would come in relief of Vargas in the fourth. Vargas finished with three innings pitched, allowing six hits and seven runs scored. Hartford quickly tagged Thompson, thanks to a three run home run from Hunter Goodman to extend the lead to 10-0.

The R-Phils were finally able to get something going in the bottom of the sixth. After a seemingly stellar performance from Hughes, Reading came back with the long ball. Carlos De La Cruz kicked the inning off in record fashion, blasting a home run to get the Fightin Phils on the board. With the home run, De La Cruz reached base for the 33rd-straight game. This tied Cameron Perkins' mark set in 2014, which dating back to 2009 is the longest on-base streak for an R-Phil.

The Fightins were not done there. Johan Rojas joined the party with a home run of his own, the third back-to-back home run this season for Reading, all coming in the last 22 days. Nick Podkul would soon crush another home run in the inning, making it 10-3 Hartford.

The Yard Goats came back with another in the seventh. Cristian Hernandez, who pitched the inning prior, returned to pitch the seventh after coming in for relief of Andrew Schultz. Braxton Fulford reached first with a double. Fulford would eventually score after a single from Blomgren, making it 11-3 Yard Goats.

The R-Phils returned the favor with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Max McDowell led the inning off with a walk. After a single from De La Cruz, Jhailyn Ortiz smoked a single to center field to score McDowell to make it 11-4 Hartford.

Max Kuhns came in for relief of Hernandez in the top half of the eighth. After a walk for Hunter Goodman, Lavigne thumped a home run to make it 13-3 Yard Goats.

Hartford recorded its final run in the ninth off of reliever Tyler McKay. A single from Goodman scored Blomgren to make it 14-4 Yard Goats.

Reading tacked on another in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a walk from Matthew Kroon with the bases loaded, although it was ultimately not enough to make a comeback. Reading would fall to Hartford 14-5.

Hughes earned the win for Hartford to improve to 1-1 this season, while Vargas suffered the loss for Reading to fall to 1-2 on the year. With the win, Hartford improves to 27-35 on the season, while Reading falls to 24-38.

After an off day tomorrow, Reading is back on the road and begins a six-game series at the Portland Sea Dogs Tuesday night at 6 p.m. The pitching matchups have yet to be announced. Streaming is available on MiLB TV or the Ball Live App. Radio coverage of the series will be available Friday through Sunday and coverage will begin 15 minutes prior to first pitch next weekend.

The Fightin Phils return home on Wednesday, June 28 to begin a series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants), that runs through Monday, July 3. Tickets to all games are still available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or in-person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2023 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.