PORTLAND, Maine – The Hartford Yard Goats bullpen blew two chances to close out the Portland Sea Dogs Friday night. They finally pulled through in the 17th inning. Catcher Jackson Williams ripped a bases-loaded double that scored three runs to lift Hartford to a 5-2 Eastern League win over Portland in the first-ever extra inning game in Yard Goats history.
Right-handed pitcher Matt Pierpont threw four scoreless innings in relief, striking out four to earn his first win of the season.
Tied at 2-2, Hartford’s Rosell Herrera started the 17th inning by reaching base on an error. Ryan McMahon bunted him to second base. Michael Benjamin and Dillon Thomas followed with infield hits loading the base for Williams. The veteran catcher stroked a double down the left field line, bringing home all three base-runners for a 5-2 lead.
Williams went 4-for-7 in the game with two doubles and three RBI.
Hartford took a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning. Williams doubled down the right field line and moved to third on Ashley Graeter’s single. Raimel Tapia brought home Williams with a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Hartford a 1-0 lead.
The Sea Dogs tied the game in the eighth inning on a 2-out RBI single by Tzu-Wei Lin. Wendell Rijo led off the frame with a double off reliever Rayan Gonzalez. Both clubs exchanged runs in the 13th inning on sacrifice fly balls.
Hartford 5, Portland 2 (17)
At Portand
Hartford (6-3) 000 001 000 000 100 003 – 5-12-1
Portland (4-5) 000 000 010 000 100 000 – 2-11-1
German Marquez, Rayan Gonazlez (8), Austin House (10), Shane Broyles (11), Matt Carasiti (13), Matt Pierpont (14) and Jackson Williams; Teddy Shankiewicz, Mike McCarthy (7), Chandler Shepard (9), Heri Quevedo (11), Simon Mercedes (17); WP: Pierpont (1-0); LP: Mercedes (0-1); BS: Gonazlez (1), Carasiti (1); 2B: Rijo (P), Williams (H) 2, Valaika (H)
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