Akron ninth inning rally denies Hartford 10th straight win

WP - Kyle Marman (2-1)

LP - Gavin Hollowell (3-1)

S - Thomas Pontecelli (1)

BS - Gavin Hollowell (1)

T - 2:26

A - 5,187

Hartford, Conn - Ezequiel Tovar homered in the bottom of the first inning and starter Nick Bush extended his scoreless streak to 13 innings, but Akron plated four runs in the ninth to come back and defeat the Yard Goats, 5-2, at Dunkin’ Donuts Park on Tuesday night. Bo Naylor’s three-run homer gave the Rubber Ducks their first lead of the night with one out in the ninth inning. Hartford’s winning streak is snapped at nine games, which ties a franchise record. The Somerset Patriots moved back within 1.5 games of the Yard Goats for the Eastern League Northeast lead with their win over the Fisher Cats.

Reigning Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Nick Bush picked up right where he left off by retiring the first five hitters he faced — 24-straight dating back to his last start against Portland. He allowed just two baserunners through four innings while striking out three.

In the bottom of the first inning, Daniel Montano led off with a single up the middle on the first pitch he saw. It would be the first of four times Montano (1-1, 3 BB) would reach base on Tuesday. Tovar promptly put Hartford ahead 2-0 two pitches later with a high drive to right for his 13th home run of the season.

In the fifth, Bush gave up his first leadoff base runner of the night. The lefty then induced a popout and a chopper to third that Aaron Schunk gathered and turned to second to start an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play. The following inning, Akron loaded the bases with one out on two hits and a walk. Bush struck out Rubber Ducks’ cleanup hitter Micah Pries on a backfoot slider. On his 86th and final pitch of the evening, Bush got José Tena on the same slider to preserve the shutout.

Fineas Del Bonta-Smith relieved Bush in the seventh and used another double play to get out of first and third with one out in his lone inning of work. In the eighth, Akron’s George Valera ended the shutout with an RBI single to left. PJ Poulin was able to hold the lead by striking out Marcos Gonzales with runners on second and third and two outs.

Closer Gavin Hollowell retired the first hitter he faced on two pitches in the top of the ninth. The Rubber Ducks followed with a walk and three-consecutive hits, first Julian Escobdeo’s third hit of the night to score Raynel Delgado and then Naylor’s blast to cap the scoring.

The Yard Goats (38-20) and Rubber Ducks (33-25) play again tomorrow, June 15 (7:05 ET) at Dunkin’ Donuts Park. RHP Noah Davis starts for Hartford, and LHP Joey Cantillo will start for Akron. The game will be broadcast on Newsradio 1410 WPOP.