Yard Goats Take Series Finale, 8-1

The Hartford Yard Goats (8-3) were carried by their starting pitcher for the third straight game and defeated the Sea Dogs (4-7) on Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field 8-1.
 
Kyle Freeland (7.0 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) became the third straight Yard Goat starter to go 7 innings this series against the Sea Dogs. Portland struck for their lone run in the third inning thanks to an error from Pat Valaika that allowed Jose Vinicio (0-4, R) to reach base. He later scored on a sac fly from Rainel Rosario (0-3, RBI).
 
The Sea Dogs maintained a 1-0 lead until the 7th inning. Aaron Wilkerson (6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO) gave Portland another quality start, his third of the season in three tries. Wilkerson has allowed just 5 hits in 16.2 IP this season and lowered his ERA to 0.56.  
 
The Yard Goats took the lead in the 7th inning on a two-run home run by Ashley Graeter off of Simon Mercedes, his first of the season. They extended their lead in the 8th, scoring 3 more runs off Mercedes, but just one was earned as a result of an error by Tzu-Wei Lin. Hartford made it 8-1 in the top of the 9th, scoring 3 more unearned runs. The teams combined to commit 9 errors in the game - 5 by Portland, 4 by Hartford.  
 
The win gives Hartford the series victory, three games to one. The Yard Goats combined to scored 18 of 24 total runs in the series in late innings (7th inning or later).

The Sea Dogs' homestand continues tomorrow as they open a three-game series with the Trenton Thunder. RHP Justin Haley (0-1, 2.84) takes the hill for Portland against RHP Brady Lail (0-1, 1.59) of Trenton. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Sea Dogs ticket office, by phone at 879-9500, or online at seadogs.com.