Yard Goats Can Do Little Against Littell

Hartford - Making his Eastern League debut, New York Yankees pitching prospect Zach Littell stymied the Hartford Yard Goats on an unearned run and two hits, pitching the first place Trenton Thunder to a 5-1 win Thursday night, before 5,570 fans. Littell, just called up from Single-A Tampa, where he was 8-1 with a 1.76 ERA, pitched seven innings, walked three and struck out a season high 10, as the Thunder won the rubber game of the three-game series. 

Trenton batted around to break open a scoreless game with four runs in the sixth inning off of starter Parker French. Thairo Estrada ended an 0-for-10 skein with an RBI single. After a walk loaded the bases, the league leader in RBI (50), Miguel Andújar, cleared them with a double into the left field corner.
Hartford scored its only run without benefit of a hit in the seventh inning. Dom Nuñez, who had the Goats' first hit with a second-inning double, walked, advanced to third on an error and scored on a steal of home. Ashley Graeter had the other Yard Goats safety.
The home stand continues, when the Yard Goats open a three-game series Friday night at 7:05 against the Altoona Curve. Righthander Luis Niebla will pitch for Hartford against righthander Austin Coley for the Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate. The game can be heard on AM 1410 WPOP and on iHeart Radio.