HARTFORD, April 8, 2022 – Colorado Rockies prospect Michael Toglia cranked a two-run homer into the second deck in right field but the Hartford Yard Goats fell to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, 8-2, in the 2022 season opener at Dunkin’ Donuts Park.
The Eastern League game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 6,542 in Hartford. Binghamton scored six runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a three-run homer by Francisco Alvarez.
Binghamton took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run by Brett Baty in the first inning off Hartford starter Mitch Kilkenny. The Yard Goats stranded a pair of doubles in the first two innings.
The Rumble Ponies scored six runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-0 lead. Hayden Senger tripled, Jeremy Vazquez singled and Francisco Alvarez cranked a three-run homer in the frame. Ronny Mauricio capped the rally with an RBI single.
The Yard Goats scored two runs in the eighth inning as Michael Toglia smashed a two-run home run.
The Eastern League played their final season in 2019 and it was disbanded prior to the 2021 season as part of a reorganization of minor league baseball. The Yard Goats played in the Double A Northeast League in 2021 but minor league baseball officials rebranded the league as the Eastern League for 2022.
The Yard Goats and Rumple Ponies play the second game of a three game series on Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Left-handed pitcher Nick Bush will start for the Yard Goats and RHP Marcel Renteria will start for the Rumble Ponies.
Binghamton (1-0) 100 610 000 — 8-13-0
Hartford (0-1) 000 000 020 — 2-5-0
Butto, Campos (5), Gadea (7), Montes de Oca (9) and Alvarez; Kilkenny, Fennell (4), Gaddis (6), Poulin (8) and MacIver; WP: Campps (1-0), LP: Kilkenny (0-1)
