Yard Goats Drop Game One of EL Playoffs, Host Game Two Thursday
Yard Goats Drop Game One of EL Playoffs, Host Game Two Thursday Reading, PA- The Yard Goats lost to the Reading Fightin Phils 21-4 in Game One of the Eastern League’s best-of-three Northeast Division Championship Series. Reading answered the Yard Goats three-run second inning by scoring 12 runs in the
Yard Goats Drop Game One of EL Playoffs, Host Game Two Thursday
Reading, PA- The Yard Goats lost to the Reading Fightin Phils 21-4 in Game One of the Eastern League’s best-of-three Northeast Division Championship Series. Reading answered the Yard Goats three-run second inning by scoring 12 runs in the bottom of the inning. Aron Escobar started the rally with a two-run homer as part of a ten-hit frame for the Fightin Phils. Cole Messina had two hits and drove in a run and Braylen Wimmer had an RBI double for Hartford. The Yard Goats will host Game Two of the ELDS on Thursday, September 17th (6:30 PM) at Dunkin’ Park.
The Yard Goats took a 3-0 lead in the second inning against Phillies top prospect Gage Wood. The right-hander walked the first three batters of the inning, Braylen Wimmer, Zach Kokoska and Jacob Humphrey. Hartford scored the first two runs in infield grounders by Roynier Hernandez, and Cole Messina made it 3-0 with an RBI single to right field.
The Fightin Phils answered by scoring 12 runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 12-3 lead and knock Yard Goats starter Connor Staine from the game. Reading began the inning with six consecutive hits, including a two-run home run by Aron Escobar, RBI double by Pedro Leon and run-scoring single from Bryan Rincon. Later in the inning, Leon added a two-run single and Austin Murr had a two RBI triple off reliever Bryson Hammer.
Reading added four runs in third inning to take a 16-3 lead. The frame was highlighted by a two-run double by Bryan Rincon. After the Yard Goats scored a run in the sixth inning on Braylen Wimmer’s RBI double to make it 16-4, Reading put up five runs in the seventh inning.
Reading starter Gage Wood went four innings before turning the big lead over to the bullpen. After getting reached for three runs in the second inning, he retired six of the final seven batters faced and finished with four strikeouts. Evan Gates pitched 1.1 innings in relief to earn the win.
The Yard Goats continue the best-of-three EL Northeast Division Championship Series with Game Two on Thursday night at Dunkin’ Park at 6:30. The game will be broadcast on the free Audacy App, iHeartRadio app, Yard Goats website and streamed on MiLB.TV.