Yard Goats rally falls short against Reading

HARTFORD, May 6, 2023 – Hartford’s Zac Veen tied a franchise record with six RBI while teammates Grant Lavigne and Kyle Datres hit back-to-back home runs but it wasn’t enough as the Yards Goats fell to the Reading Fightin Phils 14-12 on Saturday night at Dunkin’ Park in Eastern League actions.

The Yard Goats had leads of 2-0 and 6-4, but the Fightins managed to come back and defeat Hartford for the fourth time in five games.

Trailing by four runs in the ninth inning, the Yard Goats managed to get league’s leading home run hitter Hunter Goodman to the plate representing the winning run.  But Reading reliever Max Kuhns retired Hunter Goodman on a line drive to earn the save and preserve the win for Reading.

Hartford’s Bladimir Restituyo extended his hit-streak to an Eastern League high 13 consecutive games.  The game was played in front of 7,479 fans, the second largest crowd ever at Dunkin’ Park.

Veen was 3-for-5 with a single, double, triple and six RBI to lead the Yard Goats.

Reading 14, Hartford 12
At Hartford
Reading (10-15)           004  022  213  – 14-17-1
Hartford (12-12)           023  101  032  — 12-12-1
Hendrickson, Zarbnisky (4), Baker (6), Lehman (7), Schulze (8), Kuhns (9) and Roberts  : WP: Zarbnisky (1-1); McMahon, Spain (5), Lackey (7), Kitchen (7), Goldsberry (8), Kuzia (9) and Goodman; WP: Zarbnisky (1-1); LP: Spain (1-2); 2B: Roberts (Re), Wilson (Re), Veen (H), Simpson (H), Bernabel (H), Goodman (H) 3B: Dunn (Re), Veen (H), HR: Rojas (Re), Kroon (Re), Lavigne (H), Datres (H)