HARTFORD, April 6, 2023 — Designated hitter Hunter Goodman collected two hits on opening night but the Hartford Yard Goats fell to the Bowie Baysox by a final score of 8-0 on Thursday night in Eastern League action at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford.
It appeared the Yard Goats were going to take an early lead in the bottom half of the first inning when Goodman smacked a single to right field, but Baysox outfielder Billy Cook threw a strike to the plate to gun down Yard Goats outfielder Zac Veen at home and end the inning.
Yard Goats starter Case Williams pitched well and allowed just one run in five innings and had five strikeouts.
For the next five innings, the game would develop into a pitcher’s duel before the Baysox exploded for six runs in the top half of the sixth inning. Despite picking up the loss for Hartford, starting pitcher Case Williams threw five solid innings, only allowing two hits and one run to score while striking out five Baysox foes.
The scoring for the Baysox started in the fourth inning when Bowie first basemen Heston Kjerstad hit a solo home run to deep right center field.
Bowie broke the game open in the sixth inning with six runs. Bowie began the run with a RBI single from Heston Kjerstad and an RBI double from third basemen Colby Mayo.
After setting down Bowie’s cleanup hitter for the second out of the inning, Yard Goats reliever Jared Biddy then gave up an RBI single to outfielder John Rhodes before hitting outfielder Donta Williams with a pitch and surrendering two consecutive RBI singles to designated hitter Shayne Fontana and catcher Connor Pavolony.
Hartford pitcher Dylan Spain also proved to be a bright spot for the Yard Goats, as he threw a scoreless frame in the eighth inning while striking out one batter. The official attendance was 5,625 fans.
The Yard Goats and Baysox play the second of a three game series on Friday night (7:10 PM) at Dunkin’ Park, and tickets are available. The game will be broadcast on AM 1410, FM 100.9 and on the iheart radio app.
Bowie 8, Hartford 0
At Hartford
Bowie (1-0) 000 106 001 — 8-9-1
Hartford (0-1) 000 000 000 — 0-5-1
Armbriester, McDermott (6) and Pavolony; Williams, Biddy (6), Goldsberg (6), Spain (8), Lackey (9), Darnell (9) and Romo; WP: Armbriester (1-0), LP: Williams (0-1); Save: McDermott (1); 2B: Fontana (B), Mayo (B), HR: Jerstad (B)
