Trailing by three in the seventh inning, the Hartford Yard Goats scored five runs to rally past the Rumble Ponies 10-6 on Sunday afternoon at Mirabito Stadium in Binghamton, N.Y. Outfielder Niko Decolati hit the go-ahead two-run single, scoring Aaron Schunk and Brenton Doyle, as Hartford won its seventh in a row.
Doyle had four hits, Decolati had three hits, and Grant Lavigne had three hits, including a home run and double. The Yard Goats have outscored their opponents 55-26 during the winning streak. New York Mets reliever Trevor May worked a scoreless inning on a MLB rehab assignment and allowed a hit to Lavigne. The Yard Goats won both games of the two-game series. Saturday night’s game was postponed due to inclement weather and will be made up as part of a doubleheader when the Yard Goats return to Binghamton in September.
Binghamton took a 3-0 lead in the second inning as Wyatt Young belted a three-run double off Hartford starter Noah Davis. The Mets affiliate made it 4-0 on Zach Ashford’s RBI double in the third inning. The Yard Goats got a pair of runs in the fourth off starter Jose Butto. Willie MacIver doubled home Schunk and Doyle to make it a 4-2 game. Mets prospect Ronnie Mauricio drove home Matt Winaker in the bottom of the inning for a 5-2 lead.
Isaac Collins started the rally in the seventh. He led off with a walk, stole second, took third on a grounder and scored on Hunter Stovall’s groundout to make it 5-3. Lavigne followed with a solo home run to make it 5-4. Michael Toglia singled, Schunk walked, Doyle singled and MacIver walked with the bases loaded, scoring Toglia to tie it 5-5. Decolati then singled to right field, scoring Schunk and Doyle for a 7-5 lead.
Hartford added three more runs on five hits in the eighth. Toglia had an RBI single, Schunk an RBI double and MacIver a sacrifice fly. Riley Pint faced the minimum three batters and had a strikeout to earn the win. The Yard Goats return to Dunkin’ Donuts Park on Tuesday to host the Red Sox affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs.
Late goal beats Hartford Athletic: After a scoreless first half, Hartford Athletic took the lead in the 55th minute on a goal by Conor McGlynn but couldn’t hang on as Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC came away with a 2-1 victory in a USL game Saturday night at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford.
Russell Cicerone tied it in the 74th minute for Pittsburgh and Shane Wiedt scored the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Yannik Oettl made four saves for Hartford. Riverhounds goalkeeper Jahmali Waite didn’t have to make a save for the win.
Hartford has a quick turnaround as it will meet Rio Grande Valley FC for a midweek matchup Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. in Edinburg, Texas.