Yard Goats Late Rally Falls Short in 4-3 Loss
Bridgwater, NJ- Trailing 4-0 in the eighth inning, the Yard Goats got a two-run home run from Jimmy Obertop and then added a run in the ninth but fell short in a 4-3 loss to the Somerset Patriots on Friday evening at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Somerset starting pitcher Bryce Cunningham worked seven scoreless innings before Hartford put three runs up on the bullpen. Jack O’Dowd had two hits, scored a run and had an RBI and Dyan Jorge stole his team-record 55th base. The Yard Goats play two more games in New Jersey before starting the Eastern League playoffs next Tuesday in Reading, PA.
Jace Avina got the Patriots off to a great start with a leadoff home run against Yard Goats starter Konner Eaton, giving the Yankees affiliate a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Somerset made it 2-0 with a run in the third as Roderick Arias’ sacrifice fly scored Avina who began the frame with a double.
Somerset made it 4-0 in the fourth inning as Cole Gabrielson clubbed a two-run homer over the left field fence. It was his sixth home run of the season. Eaton retired the side in order in his final inning, the fifth.
Somerset starter Bryce Cunningham gave his team their second straight impressive start. The righty went seven scoreless innings. He allowed an infield hit to the first batter of the game, Jared Thomas before retiring the next 14 batters, including the side in order in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings. Hartford only managed one hit through five innings and two hits through six innings. He pitched around some traffic in the seventh and departed with a 4-0 lead.
The Yard Goats made their move in the eighth inning against reliever Kelly Austin. Jack O’Dowd began the inning with a single and next Jimmy Obertop smashed a two-run homer over the left field fence to make it a 4-2 game. Skyler Messinger followed with a single but Austin retired the next three batters to work out of the jam.
Braylen Wimmer led off the ninth with a walk against Harrison Cohen, Zach Kokoska followed with a single and Dyan Jorge reached on a fielder’s choice and error to load the bases. Jack O’Dowd sacrifice fly scored Wimmer to make it 4-3. Jorge stole second base and the Yard Goats had runners at second and third with one out. However, Cohen struck out the final two batters to end the game.
The Yard Goats continue the six-game road trip against the Somerset Patriots on Saturday night (6:05 PM). LHP Stu Flesland III will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Cade Smith will start for Somerset. The game will be broadcast on the free Audacy App, iHeartRadio app, Yard Goats website and streamed on MiLB.TV. The Yard Goats will host Game Two of the ELDS next Thursday, September 17th (6:30 PM) at Dunkin’ Park.