(Portland ME) The Hartford Yard Goats got off to a great start.
Portland’s best pitcher (Josh Winckowski) was out in less than an inning.
The visitors had a 5-0 lead.
But it didn’t last.
The Portland pitching improved, and their bats turned lively.
The Sea Dogs finished a six-game sweep of Hartford, 7-5, on a sultry Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field.
When I attend a game in Portland, I do my homework to be sure I know the top prospects in the game.
Hartford is a Colorado Rockies affiliate.
The top two CR prospects on the Yard Goat’s roster are Elehuris Montero (#9) and Jameson Hannah (#13).
First pitch of the game Jameson doubled. Several batters later in the same inning, Elehuris drove him in.
Both prospects ended up with two hits, so I had several opportunities to get pictures of them.
There are still limitations on where photographers can shoot from at Hadlock Field but my 600mm lens keeps me in range of most action.
It would be nice to see what that lens could do from the edge of the dugout.
This shot of Taylor Snyder is a close-range picture. (He was leaving the nearby Hartford locker room.)
Triston Casas is Boston’s top prospect although someone on Twitter claimed that tonight’s draft pick might immediately go to the top.
As long as the newcomer goes through Portland or New Hampshire, I’ll enjoy the pick.
I was stunned by the way Hartford roughed up Josh Winckowski. I’ve seen Josh several times and he’s pitched well enough to get wins each time. Josh came from the Mets in a three-team trade that sent Andrew Benintendi to Kansas City.
Willie Abreu (lefty) stuck his bat out at an outside pitch, thrown by Josh, with two outs and ended up with a two-run double down the leftfield line. When Josh hit the next batter, his afternoon was over.
But Josh’s teammates rallied back, and the subpar outing didn’t get him a loss.
I continue to be impressed with Triston Casas. There’s no joking around pregame. He does plenty of stretching and running. Triston is big but I see his swing as compact. I wonder if he’ll get to Worcester (AAA) before the season ends.
Bobby Dalbec has got to be hearing his footsteps.
Both of the CR prospects (Jameson Hannah & Elehuris Montero) had two hits.
Jameson and Elehuris came to Colorado in trades in 2020. Jameson was with Cincinnati and Elehuris was with St. Louis.
It must be a little frustrating for them to be on a team in last place in the Eastern League (18-41).
Taylor Snyder of Hartford leads the Eastern League in home runs with sixteen.
Willie Abreu had a home run for Hartford and drove four runs across.
The Yard Goats play at Dunkin’ Donuts Park which was recently voted the best Double-A ballpark in the country. I need to get down there. I also need to check out the Woo Sox.
I was happy today to see Slugger off the wide screen in centerfield and on the field and on the dugout. His usual antics have not resumed but seeing him in the crowd is a step in the right direction. The Portland staff did orchestrate some young fan competitions in rightfield.
My Slugger attraction is watching him challenge a young fan to a race around the bases. When that event resumes, then I’ll know that the old normal has returned. Slugger will be well rested by then and might be able to end his losing streak. No one deserves to lose for as long as he has!
Good crowd today with plenty of kids. Parking is nearby and the price (low) is right.
Thanks to Chris Cameron for arranging my visit.
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
McClelland Miscellanea 