It was a successful opening series for the Hartford Yard Goats, as multiple comebacks on the weekend gave them their first series victory of the season to bring their current season record to 2-1.
Game one saw Gabriel Hughes make his Double A debut, against Yankees No. 12 prospect Cam Schlittler on the mound. The game was shaping up to be a pitcher’s duel through five innings. Third basemen Kyle Karros, the son of long-time major league first baseman Eric Karros, got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning with a solo homerun. That turned out to be the only run for either side until the sixth inning. Schlittler settled in from this point on, finishing his day after throwing 5.1 innings, striking out seven and only allowing one run.
The former top 10 pick Hughes was sharp in his debut, throwing four perfect innings while striking out three in the process. Still on his way back from Tommy John surgery in 2022, he was relieved for at the beginning of the fifth by righty Victor Juarez. Suarez struck out the side in order but then allowed three hits in a row to open the sixth, which allowed two runs to get across. Despite this, he would come back out for the seventh but would get pulled after allowing the first two batters of the inning to get on base. Returning Yard Goat Alec Barger would come into the jam and allow both runners to score, bringing Suarez’s earned run count to four on the day. The 4-1 score would hold until the bottom of the eighth.
Against Somerset righty Jordany Ventura, Hartford pushed across three runs to tie the game. Kyle Karros started the big inning with a double and a fielding error by shortstop Jake Westwood put runners on the corners. A walk loaded the bases before a passed ball allowed Karros to score. Another walk reloaded the bases, and a single by shortstop Jose Torres drove in two more to tie the game. Somerset got two runners on in the top of the ninth but weren’t able to get any across against reliever Mason Green.
With the score still tied, right-hand pitcher Indigo Diaz came on in his Double A debut to replace Ventura. Diaz got right fielder Benny Montgomery to ground out to start the inning. That would be the last out that he would record, as Kyle Karros would send Hartford fans home happy with a walk off home run to left field to win the game, 5-4. The home run put the bow on the Yard Goats’ late game comeback. Karros ended the day with a 3-5 outing with two home runs, including the game winner. Green was the winning pitcher, while Diaz took the loss for Somerset.
The Hartford Yard Goats began their season with a record of 2-1. Photo via hartfordyardgoats/Instagram.
In game two, Dunkin’ Park saw its first MLB rehab assignment of the year. Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt, who started game three of the 2024 World Series, took the mound for Somerset and looked the part of a big leaguer pitching in Double A. The righty spun three and a third innings of shutout baseball and, despite the short start, struck out seven batters. He allowed one hit and one walk. Edgar Barclay, who was originally slated to start the game, pitched three innings in relief of Schmidt and allowed Hartford’s first run of the day on an RBI single to Jose Torres in the 6th inning. Barclay was the winning pitcher. Former undrafted free agent Harrison Cohen came in to relieve Barclay with one out in the seventh, but after striking out the first batter he faced he allowed three singles in a row and an RBI to Montgomery. He was able to escape with minimal damage, however, after striking out Karros looking. UCLA product Kelly Austin came into close the door for Somerset, striking out four over two innings of clean work.
Yard Goats starting pitcher Mason Albright also put up a strong showing, pitching four and a third innings Despite this solid start, he took the hard luck loss after exiting a 1-0 ballgame with an apparent minor injury with one out in the fifth. Following the injury to Albright, former Cleveland Guardians farmhand Matt Turner came in facing a 3-2 count to left fielder Jared Wegner. He got Wegner to fly out but then allowed a single with an inherited runner on second leading to Somerset’s first run of the game. Following a stolen base, walk and another single, the score was 2-0. Cincinnati grad Evan Shawver then entered the game, but he struggled mightily as he allowed four earned runs over two innings resulting in a 6-2 score in favor of Somerset which would be the final tally.
Somerset third basemen Max Burt made up for a fourth inning error with a 2-4 day at the plate, including two runs batted in on a pair of singles. He also stole a base. Jones and Wegner also added RBI singles of their own for the Patriots. Jones went 2-4 at the plate with a walk. First basemen Rafael Flores put the nail in the Hartford coffin with a two-run homer to left field in the top of the seventh, driving in Jones as part of a strong 3-5 showing.
The Yard Goats struggled as offensively as a team, striking out a combined 16 times. The best offensive performance for Hartford came from first baseman Jose Cordova, who went 1-3 with a walk and was the only Yard Goat not to strike out in the contest. He also made a nice over the shoulder catch on a pop up behind first base.
The Yard Goats offense would rebound on Sunday, as they put up 16 runs in a victory over Somerset, 16-5. Patriots starter Trent Sellers gave up four runs in the first, but a five run fifth inning put Somerset in front and knocked Hartford starter Jack Mahoney out of the game. That was the last lead they would hold, as reliever Colby White gave up six runs in the bottom of the frame. Righty Cole Percival, the son of former all-star closer Troy Percival, would come in to try to put out the fire. Instead, he would give up another four runs, culminating in a massive ten run fifth inning for Hartford.
Three Yard Goats had three or more RBIs. Former top international signing Dyan Jorge led the team with a 4-5 day at the plate with four RBIs, three runs scored, and his first home run of the season. Top prospects Cole Carrigg and Montgomery also added three RBIs and a home run each. For Somerset, their only extra base hit of the day came off of a home run from Flores, who went deep for a second day in a row. Brayan Castillo took the win on the mound for Hartford, while White was credited with the loss.
Series Preview: 4/8-4/13 @ Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Hartford is set to travel to Binghamton, N.Y. this week as they begin their first full series of the year and try to carry their hot start on the road. Binghamton, an affiliate of the New York Mets, is carrying a lot of upper-level talent at the moment. The roster is headlined by infielder Jett Williams. The 2023 first rounder returns to Double A after losing four months to a shoulder injury last season. MLB Pipeline’s 56th overall prospect, Williams is a contact-over-power bat who runs well and has solid discipline at the plate. He profiles as New York’s potential second baseman of the future.
Other exciting prospects for the Rumble Ponies include first baseman/outfielder Ryan Clifford and righty pitchers Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong. Clifford, acquired from the Houston Astros in the 2023 Justin Verlander trade, has below average bat to ball skills but can drive the ball when he does make contact with strong power grades. While he is not a great runner, his good throwing arm gives him a chance to stick in the outfield corners if he can improve in this category even slightly. If not, he could be the heir apparent to Pete Alonso at first base if he improves his contact. McLean has an elite slider, and Tong offers a fastball with great vertical movement. Ranked fifth and sixth in the Mets farm system by MLB.com, respectively, both have mid rotation upside if they can improve their control.
Dollander Makes Debut Sunday:
2024 Yard Goat and Rockies 2023 first round pick Chase Dollander made his MLB Debut on Sunday. Pitching against the Athletics at home in Colorado at Coors Field, Dollander went Ranked the 24th best prospect in baseball and the fifth best right handed pitcher, Dollander started nine games for the yard Goats at the end of last season, pitching to a 2.25 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 48 innings and was the ace of the staff for the latter part of the season. He got the call to the big leagues after just one Triple A start. The 23-year-old pitched five innings, allowed four earned runs while striking out six and earning his first major league win in the process.