Three-Run Seventh Fuels Yard Goats Fourth Straight Win

Three-Run Seventh Fuels Yard Goats Fourth Straight Win

WP: Victor Juarez (2-6)

LP: Jack Dallas (3-2)

S: Austin Smith (5)

Hartford, CT - The Hartford Yard Goats used a three-run seventh inning to defeat the Reading Fightin Phils 5-3 on Tuesday night at Dunkin’ Park. The Yard Goats trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh but scored three runs on RBI-hits from Andy Perez, Jared Thomas and Zach Kokoska to take a 5-3 lead. Yard Goats relievers Victor Juarez and Austin Smith retired the last nine batters in order to give Hartford their fourth straight win.

The Yard Goats opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when they scored a pair of runs off Reading starter Cody Bowker. Braylen Wimmer started things off with an infield single that scored Perez and gave the Yard Goats a 1-0 lead. Then, a balk from Bowker allowed Thomas to score, extending Hartford’s lead to 2-0.

Reading got on the board in the top of the third when they scored two runs off Yard Goats pitcher Cade Denton. The pair of runs scored on a groundball from Aroon Escobar, that first baseman Jack O’Dowd threw away when trying to get the runner at home which allowed Dante Nori and Carson DeMartini to score, tying the game at 2-2.

The Fightin Phils took the lead in the top of the fifth when Raylin Heredia scored on an RBI-groundout from Escobar, giving Reading a 3-2 lead.

Hartford scored three runs to take the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Perez started the scoring when he roped an RBI-double to right-center field, tying the game at 3-3. Thomas gave the Yard Goats the lead with an RBI-single, making the score 4-3. Zach Kokoska added a run when he lined an RBI-double down the right field line, extending the Yard Goats lead to 5-3.

The Yard Goats continue their six game series against the Reading Fightin Phils on Thursday night at 6:30 pm. Join us at Dunkin’ Park as we giveaway Adult Floridian Shirts to the first 1,000 fans! LHP Bryson Hammer gets the start for the Yard Goats. The game will be televised on NESN+ and broadcast on the free Audacy app, iHeartRadio app and the Yard Goats website.