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East Windsor native Aaron Civale helps beat the Yard Goats

East Windsor’s Aaron Civale transitioned from reliever to a starting pitcher during his junior season at Northeastern. He helped Akron beat the Yard Goats on Tuesday night.

AKRON, OH, June 19 – Aaron Civale grew up in little East Windsor, one of the smallest towns in Connecticut. He played baseball at nearby Loomis Chaffee in Windsor. He went to Northeastern University in Boston, where he spent two years as a reliever before starting 15 games his junior season, going 9-3 with a 1.73 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 114.3 innings.

A year earlier (2015), Civale struck out David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez, Mike Napoli and Xander Bogaerts of the Boston Red Sox in spring training exhibition game.

So Civale isn’t easily rattled. He pitched six innings, allowed two runs on eight hits and struck out four to lead the Akron Rubber Ducks to a 4-3 Eastern League win over the Hartford Yard Goats on Tuesday night, snapping Hartford’s brief three-game winning streak.

Civale (4-1) received a boost when Akron (40-30) rallied in the sixth inning. Bobby Bradley hit a home run to left-center.  Following a walk, Hartford pitcher Rayan Gonzalez was then removed because of an injury.  Yard Goats reliever Scott Griggs surrendered a two-out, two-run triple to Ka’ai Tom, and first place Akron took the lead for good.

A two-out run-scoring single by Sicnarf Loopstok gave Akron a 1-0 lead in the second inning.  Hartford (33-36) tied it in the fourth on three straight singles by Mylz Jones, Sam Hilliard and Brian Mundell.

The Yard Goats took the lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Mundell, before the Rubber Ducks staged their comeback.

Hartford managed to outhit the Ducks, 10-7, led by Jones, who had three hits and two runs scored.  Hilliard and Rodgers each had two hits, while Mundell collected two RBI.  Hartford starter Evan Grills pitched four innings, allowing one run on four hits.  He did not issue any walks and struck out seven.

Civale was selected in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians. He made 13 starts for Mahonning Valley and had a 1.67 ERA. He was 13-6 with a 3.27 ERA a year ago in his pitching on the Single A and High Single A level.  This is his second full minor league season.

The Indians are the Double A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.

Since 2009, the Collinsville Press has been providing award-winning coverage of sports and news in the Farmington Valley and across Connecticut.

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