HARTFORD, CT — Despite late-game home run heroics from Jared Thomas and Cole Messina, the Hartford Yard Goats saw their postseason come to a heartbreaking end Thursday night, dropping Game 2 of the Eastern League Division Series 5-4 to the Reading Fightin Phils at Dunkin’ Park. With the victory, Reading completed the series sweep to advance.

The Fightin Phils set the tone early, capitalizing on defensive miscues to build a lead. In the top of the second inning, Reading's Carson DeMartini came around to score on a wild pitch by Hartford starter Jackson Cox (0-1), putting the visitors ahead 1-0.

Reading padded their advantage in the third frame. Bryan Rincon launched a solo home run to extend the lead, before Dante Nori crossed the plate on another wild pitch—this time off Yard Goats reliever Cade Denton—stretching the Fightin Phils’ advantage to 3-0.

Hartford answered back in the bottom of the third. Braylen Wimmer roped a clutch two-run double into right-center field off Reading starter Cody Bowker, pulling the Yard Goats back within striking distance at 3-2.

However, Reading kept the pressure on. Aiden Miller singled to right field in the fourth to restore a two-run cushion, and Pedro León added a crucial insurance run in the top of the seventh with an RBI single that scored DeMartini, making it a 5-2 ballgame.

Refusing to go quietly in front of the home crowd, the Yard Goats mounted a late-inning comeback. Jared Thomas ignited the crowd in the bottom of the eighth, crushing his first postseason home run deep into the second deck in right field to make it 5-3.

The drama escalated in the bottom of the ninth. Leading off the inning, Messina cranked a solo shot to right field—his first of the playoffs—bringing Hartford within a single run at 5-4. But Reading closer Estibenzon Jimenez held his ground, striking out Zach Kokoska to seal the victory and earn his first save of the postseason, bringing Hartford's playoff run to a close.

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