Wynkoop goes the distance to lift Hartford to win over Bowie

Left-handed pitcher Jack Wynkoop became the first pitcher in the four year history of the Yard Goats to pitch a complete, nine-inning game Wednesday in a win over Bowie.

HARTFORD, July 3 – Some history was made last night in Hartford at Dunkin’ Donuts Park.

Pitcher Jack Wynkoop became the first Hartford Yard Goat in team history to pitch a complete, nine-inning game in Wednesday night’s 4-0 Eastern League win over the Bowie Baysox before a sellout crowd of 6,850 fans.

The veteran left-handed pitcher, who has started more games (57) than any other Yard Goat hurler, allowed just four hits, did not give up a walk and struck out five. It took him just 101 pitches and a little over two hours to beat the Baysox as Hartford snapped a four-game losing streak to Bowie.

Wynkoop (6-9) retired the first eight batters he faced and allowed Bowie just one hit in the first four innings, before escaping a bases loaded jam in the fifth.  He retired 12 straight before yielding a two-out single in the ninth, then got a ground out to third to complete his gem.

Congratulations Jack Wynkoop! First complete game shut out in Yard Goats history. #NoGoatsNoGlory

(@MiLB, @MiLBPromos, @Rockies) pic.twitter.com/QszT7bZ5IC

— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) July 4, 2019

The Yard Goats scored the only run they needed in the third inning, when Vance Vizcaino tripled and Arvicent Perez knocked him in with a two-out single to right.  Tyler Nevin’s single, a sacrifice and a RBI-double by Mylz Jones made it 2-0 in the seventh inning.

Hartford tacked on two more runs in the eighth, when Manny Melendez doubled and scored on a two-base throwing error by third baseman Rylan Bannon on a Colton Welker ground ball.  Welker eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Perez went 3-for-3 with an RBI to pace Hartford’s 10-hit attack.  Nevin and Melendez each added two hits. The capacity crowd was the 23rd sellout of the season.

The Yard Goats played the game in red, white and blue themed uniforms in honor of the July 4 holiday.

Hartford opens a four-game series at Trenton on Thursday at 7:05 p.m., before breaking three days for the Eastern League All-Star game. The Yard Goats return to Dunkin’ Donuts Park, Thursday, July 11 at 7:05 p.m., hosting the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.