Hartford Yard Goats driving for Double-A Eastern League playoff spot as Akron comes to town
The Hartford Yard Goats are in new territory: a playoff chase.
It may seem a little early, but with the Eastern League going to a split-season format, the Yard Goats can clinch a playoff spot before the first half ends on June 26. They lead Somerset in the Northeast Division by 2 1/2 games with 12 to go.
If the Yard Goats finish the first half in first place, postseason baseball will come to Dunkin’ Donuts Park in September, even though some of the players who helped the team get there will likely be promoted by then.
The Yard Goats (38-19) swept a six-game series at Portland last week, a first in franchise history, and have won seven consecutive series. Their nine-game winning streak is the longest active streak in all of minor league baseball as the Guardians’ Double-A affiliate, the Akron RubberDucks, comes to Hartford this week for games Tuesday through Sunday. Akron (32-25) is second in the Southwest Division, one game behind Richmond.
Next week, the Yard Goats finish the first half with a six-game series at Somerset, which will decide the first-half winner.
Here is what you need to know about the upcoming homestand:
Probable starters and promotions
Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.: Yard Goats LHP Nick Bush vs. Akron RHP Hunter Gaddis
Promotion: Yard Goats Kids Camo Jersey for first 1,000 kids.
Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.: Hartford RHP Noah Davis vs. Akron LHP Joey Cantillo
Promotion: ’80s Night celebrating all things neon and denim.
Thursday, 7:05 p.m.: RHP Karl Kauffmann vs. Akron LHP Logan Allen
Promotion: Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond: Meet Captain America.
Friday, 7:05 p.m.: RHP Mitch Kilkenny vs. Akron RHP Xzavion Curry
Promotion: Negro League Celebration.
Saturday, 6:05 p.m.: RHP Michael Baird vs. Akron RHP Tanner Burns
Promotion: Pajama Party with postgame fireworks, prizes for best PJ’s.
Sunday, 1:05 p.m.: LHP Nick Bush vs. Akron RHP Gavin Williams
Promotion: Father’s Day Celebration; Kids & Dads Run the Bases postgame.
How to watch/listen
Radio — FM 100.9 or AM 1410 WPOP; Video Stream — MiLB.tv; Internet — newsradio1410.iheart.com (iHeartRadio app)
For tickets and information visit yardgoatsbaseball.com or call 860-246-4628.
Nick Bush on a roll
Bush was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week after his performance at Portland. Bush, 25, earned his fifth win, tops on the team, with seven scoreless innings last Wednesday. He retired the final 19 batters he faced with four strikeouts and no walks in a 4-0 win. Bush, who played at LSU, is in his second season with the Yard Goats and has a 3.48 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 62 innings. Bush also beat Reading in his last start in Hartford. The Yard Goats have won eight of his 11 starts.
Players to watch
Ezequiel Tovar is still hitting, at .310 with 12 home runs, 39 RBIs and a .951 on-base plus slugging mark. Michael Toglia (11 home runs 40 RBIs) and Willie MacIver (10, 28) are still slugging. Infielder Jack Blomgren is 6-for-17 with two doubles and a home run since debuting for the Yard Goats on May 17. Akron has several of Cleveland’s top prospects including catcher Bo Naylor, shortstop Brayan Rocchio, outfielder George Valera and pitchers Logan Allen and Xzavion Curry. Center fielder Will Brennan leads the RubberDucks with a .311 batting average.
About Akron
The Akron franchise is the historical descendant of the West Haven Yankees (1972-1979), who later moved to Lynn, Massachusetts, Burlington, Vermont, and, in 1988, to Canton, Ohio, when they became a Cleveland farm club. They moved from Canton to Akron in 1996 and re-branded as the Aeros, then took the name RubberDucks in 2013 to identify with the city’s several tire factories. Currently, the RubberDucks are managed by Rouglas Odor, the uncle of MLB infielder Rougned Odor. Rouglas Odor has been in pro baseball in various capacities since 1988.
Dom Amore can be reached damore@courant.com.
