Yard Goats squander opportunities in 10th inning loss to Erie

Pitcher Jack Wynkoop went seven innings, allowing nine hits and striking out two. He left with a no decision.

ERIE, Pa., June 5 – Erie third baseman Josh Lester ripped a line drive down the right field line in the 10th inning that drove home teammate Will Maddox to lead the Seawolves to a 5-4 Eastern League victory over the Hartford Yard Goats Tuesday.

The Yard Goats had leads of 2-1 and 4-2 before Erie rallied in the sixth inning to tie the contest. Hartford came into the game on a modest two-game winning streak after dropping seven straight.

Hartford (28-30) had their chances. They stranded 12 runners on base and the Seawolves, the Double A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, walked nine batters.

The Sea Wolves (22-34) scored the first run of the game on two singles and an infield grounder by Josh Lester in the first inning off Hartford starter Jack Wynkoop.  The Yard Goats took a 2-1 lead in the third inning as Erie starter Spencer Turnbull struggled with command.  A wild pitch scored Scott Burcham tying the game and another wild pitch brought home Forrest Wall giving Hartford the lead.

After the SeaWolves tied the game at 2-2 in the third inning, the Yard Goats took a 4-2 lead with a pair of runs in the fourth inning.

Turnbull walked two more batters before being lifted in the fourth inning with two outs.  He walked six batters, was charged with three wild pitches and threw 84 pitches (43 strikes) in his start.  Matt Hall came in and after walking Forrest Wall, surrendered a two-run triple to Brendan Rodgers, scoring Scott Burcham and Wall and giving the Yard Goats a 4-2 lead.

Erie tied the game in the sixth inning on a two-RBI single by Troy Montgomery, scoring Josh Lester and Kade Scivieque making it 4-4.

In the 10th, the Yard Goats had a first and third situation with nobody out and did not score.  The Sea Wolves had Will Maddox lead off the bottom of the 10th inning at second base.  Hartford intentionally walked Dominic Ficociello and Josh Lester delivered the RBI game winning hit with a liner down the right field line scoring Maddox.