Fernandez Cranks Go-Ahead Homer in Yard Goats Win

Final: Hartford 5, Portland 4

WP- Connor Van Scoyoc (2-1)

LP- Wyatt Olds (0-7)

T- 2:30

Portland, Maine- Yanquiel Fernandez smashed a go-ahead two run home run in the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie, and led the Hartford Yard Goats to a 5-4 victory against the Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday evening at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine. It was the third game of a six-game series. Yard Goats starter Connor Van Scoyoc pitched well in six innings to earn the win, and relievers Angel Chivilli, Juan Mejia and Austin Kitchen held down Portland over the final three innings. Kitchen pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

The Sea Dogs took a 3-0 lead with a pair of home runs in the second inning against Yard Goats starter Connor Van Scoyoc. Blaze Jordan led off the inning with a double and Kyle Teel followed with his first Double-A home run, giving Portland a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning, Alex Binelas cranked a two out solo home run to make it 3-0 Sea Dogs.

The Yard Goats made it a 3-2 game with two runs in the fifth inning off Sea Dogs starter, and Red Sox top pitching prospect Wikelman Gonzalez. Drew Romo led off the inning with a single and stole second base. Ryan Ritter drove him home with a double down the left field line to make it a 3-1 game. Ritter took third on a wild pitch and scored on Sterlin Thompson’s RBI single to make it 3-2.

The Yard Goats tied the game with a run in the sixth inning, and knocked starter Wikelman Gonzalez from the game. Jordan Beck began the frame with a single, stole second base, and then advanced to third on a throwing error. Drew Romo drove him in with a grounder later in the inning to tie the game at 3-3.

Hartford took a 5-3 lead in the seventh inning on a two-run homer by Yanquiel Fernandez. The two-out rally consisted of a single by Rockies top prospect Adael Amador, and then a nine-pitch at-bat for Fernandez. Yanquiel smashed a fastball 357 feet into the Sea Dogs bullpen to give Hartford its first lead at 5-3.

Yard Goats starter Connor Van Scoyoc pitched well in six innings and left with a 5-3 lead. The right-hander allowed just three runs on six hits and did not walk a batter while striking out four. He retired the side in order three times.

The Yard Goats will continue their six-game road trip against the Boston Red Sox affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs, at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine on Friday night at 6:00 PM. LHP Carson Palmquist will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Sterling Sharp will pitch for the Sea Dogs. The game will be broadcast on AM 1410, FM 100.9 and on the iheart radio app.