Thompson Homers in Yard Goats 2023 Season Finale

Final: Portland 24, Hartford 2

WP- CJ Liu (7-8)

LP- Andrew Quezada (4-8)

T-2:52

Portland, Maine- Sea Dogs first baseman Tyler Esplin had four hits and drove in seven runs, outfielder Tyler Dearden drove in six runs, and catcher Alex Erro had four hits and drove in five runs as Portland beat Hartford 24-2 in the 2023 season finale on Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine. Portland scored five runs in three different innings, and put up nine runs in the fifth inning to win the series. Yard Goats outfielder Sterlin Thompson cranked a solo home run, his seventh of the season since joining Hartford. The Yard Goats lost three of five games in their final series of the season.

The Sea Dogs scored five runs on five hits in the second inning off Hartford starter Andrew Quezada. Tyler Dearden cracked a two-run single, Tyler Esplin followed with a 2 RBI double and Roman Anthony added an RBI hit.

The Yard Goats made it a 5-1 game with a solo home run by Sterlin Thompson in the fourth inning off Sea Dogs starter Hunter Dobbins. The right-hander retired the first ten batters, with seven strikeouts, before Thompson went deep. Dobbins only allowed that one hit and run but was pulled from the game after four innings. He finished with eight strikeouts.

Portland scored nine runs in the fifth inning to jump to a 14-1 lead off the Yard Goats bullpen. The Red Sox affiliate built the lead with five hits, five walks and a hit batsman. Tyler Esplin and Roman Anthony each contributed with two-run singles.

After the Yard Goats got a run in the seventh inning, Portland added five runs in the bottom of the inning and five more in the eighth. Dearden had a 2 RBI single and Tyler Esplin cranked a two-run homer.

Yard Goats relievers Nick Garcia (1 perfect inning) and Bryce McGowan (1.1 perfect innings) were sharp, and Adam McKillican struck out all three batters faced in a perfect sixth inning.