Yard Goats offense silenced by Sea Dogs in series finale

Chris Ragago had two singles in Thursday afternoon’s 5-0 loss to Portland.

PORTLAND, ME, April 19 – A few hours after getting the most hits and most runs in a single game this season, the Yard Goats bats were silenced.

On Wednesday night, Hartford had a season-high 13 hits and nine runs in a win over the Portland Sea Dogs, the Double A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.

On Thursday afternoon, Portland righthander Teddy Stankiewicz retired 15 consecutive batters in six scoreless innings in a 5-0 Eastern League victory over Hartford Yard Goats at Hadlock Field. Boston’s Bobby Poyner pitched a scoreless inning to begin the game. He was working with the Sea Dogs on a rehabilitation assignment (hamstring injury).

Portland pitchers limited Hartford to just five hits and struck out 12 Yard Goat batters. Garrett Hampson, who has a team-leading .320 average, was 2-for-4 while Brendan Rodgers was 1-for-4 with his third double of the season. Catcher Chris Rabago was 2-for-3.

Hartford starter Ryan Castellani gave up just one run on a first inning double from Esteban Quiroz. Castellani allowed five hits but gave up just one hit in his final four innings of work. He struck out five. It was just 1-0 when Castellani left the game in the sixth inning.

Portland broke the game open in the seventh inning. The Sea Dogs loaded the bases on three consecutive walks and Josh Ockimey hit a grand slam home run over the center field wall off Hartford reliver Jason Garcia to increase the lead to 5-0. It was the first homer of the year given up by Garcia.

After a six-game road trip (3-3), the Yard Goats, Colorado’s Double A affiliate, returns home to Dunkin’ Donuts Stadium on Friday to face the Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals).

Portland 5, Hartford 0
At Portland
Hartford (4-9)          000  000  000 — 0-5-0
Portland (5-7)           100  000  40x  – 5-7-0
Ryan Castellani, Max Schuh (6), Jason Garcia (6), Marc Magliaro (8) and Chris Rabago; Bobby Poyner, Teddy Stankiewicz (2), Daniel McGrath (8) and Isaias Lucena; WP: Stankiewicz (1-2); LP: Castellani (1-1); 2B: Cole Sturgeon (P), Brendan Rodgers (H); HR: Josh Okimey (P)