Dahl hits fifth home run but Yard Dogs fall in Portland

Hartford’s David Dahl hit his fifth home run of the season Thursday.

PORTLAND, ME, April 14 – The Yard Goats gave the Portland Sea Dogs too big of a head start.

Boston’s Double AA affiliate captured their home opener in front of more than 7,000 fans at Hadlock Field Thursday night with a 8-5 victory over Hartford in Eastern League play. The Sea Dogs led 8-0 after five innings before the Yard Goats rallied to make it closer.

Hartford’s David Dahl belted his league-leading fifth home run of the season in the eighth inning. His two-run blast cut the lead to three runs, 8-5 but that was as close as Hartford (5-3) would get.

It was the first time this season that Hartford played in their gray uniforms as the road team. The Yard Goats were the home team in their first two series in Richmond and New Hampshire because their home stadium in Hartford is still under construction. Hartford’s first game at home is May 31.

The Sea Dogs (4-4) scored three times in the first inning against Hartford starter Antonio Senzatela.  Aneury Tavarez walked, stole second base and scored on a one-out double by Rainel Rosario, giving Portland a 1-0 lead.  Then Jake Romanski dropped a two-run single into short right field scoring Jantzen Witte and Rosario to make it 3-0.  Senzatela left the game in the bottom of the third with an injury.  He was replaced by left-hander Carlos Hernandez. 

Portland added to its lead in the fourth inning with another three runs.  Rosario led off with a double and Henry Ramos followed with a single moving Rosario to third.  Jake Romanski’s infield grounder scored Rosario making it 4-0.  Tim Roberson followed with an RBI double to right-center field scoring Ramos.  A sharp single by Jose Vinicio brought home Roberson and it was 6-0.

The Sea Dogs scored again off Hernandez in the fifth inning.  Tavarez began the inning with a single and scored from first base on a double by Witte.  Later in the frame Witte scored on a single by Romanski to make it 8-0. 

The Yard Goats, the Double AA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, scored two runs in the sixth inning.  Pat Valaika walked and Dahl doubled him home chasing Sea Dogs starter Kevin McAvoy from the game with Hartford’s first run.  Ryan McMahon ripped an RBI single later that inning to make it 8-2. The Yard Goats added three more runs in the 8th inning on an RBI triple by Valaika and 2-run homer by Dahl.       

The Yard Goats continue the four-game series against the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox affiliate) Friday night at Hadlock Field at 6 p.m. German Marquez will start for Hartford while Teddy Stankiewicz goes for Portland.  The game will be broadcast on News Radio 1410 WPOP.