Yard Goats fall in series opener to Patriots, 4-0

Final: Patriots 4, Hartford 0

WP: Clayton Beeter (4-2)

LP: Nick Garcia (0-5)

S: None

Hartford, CT– In the first game back at Dunkin’ Park in two weeks for Hartford, the Somerset Patriots (30-21) captured their fifth triumph in their last six games with a 4-0 victory over the Yard Goats (23-28) on Tuesday night. In his 10th start of the season for the New Jersey side, Clay Beeter established the game’s tone, tying a season-high in punchouts with 11 and allowing just two hits in six innings of work. Zac Veen ripped his fifth double in Connecticut’s capital this season in the fourth inning, giving him sole possession of second place on the team in that category. Yard Goats fans came out to support after a long road trip as 6,455 people were in attendance in downtown Hartford.

The Patriots, the team that ranks second in the Eastern League in runs scored, got on the board first. Shortstop Trey Sweeney used a leadoff double, a stolen base, and a wild pitch by Hartford starter Nick Garcia to propel the away side to an early 1-0 advantage. Over the next four innings, Somerset added three runs to its lead highlighted by a solo home run by T.J. Rumfield and Aaron Palensky apiece.

Hartford threatened in the fourth getting a two-out walk from Hunter Goodman. Veen’s double would put two runners in scoring position, but the Yard Goats could not capitalize. Grant Lavigne amassed his fourth hit in his last seven games with a single in the fifth inning. The former first-round selection now has 44 hits on the 2023 campaign so far, third on the Goats roster.

Out of the bullpen for the Rockies affiliate, Evan Justice, Jacob Kostyshock, and Michael Petersen combined for three scoreless innings to finish the contest. Justice struck out two or more batters for the fourth time out of the bullpen this season while Petersen sat down the first three batters he saw in the top of the ninth inning.

The Yard Goats host the New York Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots at Dunkin’ Park on Wednesday (7:10 PM) in the second contest of this six-game series on Video Game Night. Right-hander Gray Fenter will take the mound for the Patriots for his ninth start this season. The game can be heard on AM 1410 WPOP, FM 100.9, and the iheart radio app.