Hartford, CT – The Portland Sea Dogs fell to the Hartford Yard Goats 5-4 on a walk-off double by Coco Montes in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night. With the loss, the Sea Dogs drop to 7-3 on the season while the Yard Goats improve to 3-7. Portland remains in first place in the Double-A Northeast League – Northeast Division with a 1.0 game lead over the Somerset Patriots.
With the bases loaded in the top of the third inning, Jeisson Rosario drew a walk and Jhonny Pereda scored the first run of the game. Triston Casas then singled to left field allowing Tanner Nishioka to score and the Sea Dogs took the 2-1 lead. With runners on the corners, Joey Meneses sent a sacrifice fly to centerfield and Grant Williams scored. The Sea Dogs led 3-1 after the third inning.
Leading 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning, Grant Williams singled to left field then stole second base. Pedro Castellanos then looped an RBI single to left field and Portland led 4-2 after the seventh.
After two hits and a walk by the Yard Goats in the bottom of the ninth inning, Coco Montes lined a walk-off two-run double to left field and the Sea Dogs fell, 5-4.
Portland starter Kutter Crawford tossed 4.0 innings allowing one run on three hits while striking out seven. He did not allow a free pass. Denyi Reyes came in relief and pitched 3.1 innings allowing one run on two hits while walking one and striking out two. Dominic LoBrutto was given the loss and blown save, allowing the walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Grant Williams finished the night 4-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base. It was just the second time since August 22nd, 2018 with the Lowell Spinners that he has recorded four hits. The bottom three in the batting order (Pereda, Nishioka and Williams) for the Sea Dogs combined to go 7 for 11 with four runs and a stolen base.
The Sea Dogs and Yard Goats will face off again Saturday night at 6:05pm. Portland will send RHP AJ Politi (0-1, 6.23 ERA) and Hartford is TBD.
