Sixth inning rally in the rain lifts Yard Goats to sixth straight win

Hartford’s Garrett Hampson (5) got a key hit in the bottom of the sixth inning in Hartford’s 3-0 win over Portland Wednesday night.

HARTFORD, April 25 — Not even the rain could dampen the red-hot Hartford Yard Goats, who used perfect timing to win a rain-shortened 3-0 game over the Portland Sea Dogs Wednesday night in Eastern League action at soggy Dunkin’ Donuts Park.

The Yard Goats concluded their first undefeated home stand (6-0) in the team’s three-year history with the victory.  The Goats (10-9) won their sixth straight game and the tenth in their last 13 contests. Hartford, which began the year 0-6, is over. 500 for the first time in 2018.

Held to one hit through five innings by Sea Dogs right hander Mike Shawaryn, the Yard Goats broke the scoreless deadlock, as the rain grew steadier in the last of the sixth inning.

Hartford’s Ryan Metzler started the inning with a single to center and moved all the way to third, when third baseman Josh Tobias was unable to catch a bloop bunt by Omar Carrizales.  Wes Rogers followed with a run-scoring single to center for a 1-0 lead.

The Yard Goats’ Garrett Hampson attempted to advance both runners with a sacrifice bunt, but Shawaryn fielded the wet ball and hit Hampson, enabling Carrizzales to score from second base for a 2-0 lead. Rogers advanced to third base on the throwing error.

When Portland first baseman Josh Ockimey dropped a ground ball hit by Dom Nunez, Rogers scored the third run.  That’s when the skies opened with the heaviest downpour of the night, leading the umpires to call for the tarpaulin. And 45 minutes later, the game was called.

The contest was played in a mist or steady rain from the first pitch, as Hartford’s Jesus Tinoco and Shawaryn locked horns.

Tinoco notched his team-leading third victory (3-1) with his longest outing of the season, six innings.  He allowed three hits, walked one and struck out four.  Shawaryn retired the first 12 batters, before Sam Hilliard reached him for a single to start the fifth.  He struck out a season-high seven for Portland (6-12), losers of four straight.

Following a day off on Thursday, the Yard Goats start a six-game road trip in Richmond, Virigina, on Friday night with a 7:05 game against the Richmond Flying Squirrels at The Diamond.

NOTES: There will be baseball at Dunkin’ Donuts Park this weekend. UConn will be hosting Tulane on Friday night at 7 p.m. in American Athletic Conference play and on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Huskies (23-12-1, 7-5 AAC) have won four of their last five games. Tulane is 20-22 and 6-6 in the AAC. The two teams will conclude the three-game series Sunday in Storrs at 1 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, youth and UConn students.

Avon High will play a doubleheader on Monday at Dunkin’ Donuts Park. The Falcons will play Bulkeley/Weaver at 3:30 p.m. and then square off against South Windsor at 5:30 p.m.

More collegiate baseball returns next week. The University of Hartford will host UMass on Tuesday, May 1 for a 7 p.m. contest at the park.

Hartford 3, Portland 0 (6)
At Hartford
Portland (6-12)           000  000  — 0-3-2
Hartford (10-9)           000  003  — 3-4-1
Mike Shawaryn and Austin Rei; Jesus Tinoco and Dom Nunez; WP: Tinoco (3-1); LP: Shawaryn (1-2); 2B: Rei (P)