Lavigne Home Run Not Enough as Yard Goats Fall in Ohio

*Final: Akron 5, Hartford 2 *

WP: Hunter Stanley (2-3)

LP: Nick Garcia (0-4)

S: Cade Smith (13)

Akron, OH- The Akron RubberDucks scored five runs in the first inning, and were backed by a terrific start by Hunter Stanley, and defeated the Hartford Yard Goats 5-2 on Wednesday evening at Canal Park in Ohio. Akron’s five-run first inning consisted of five hits, one walk and was highlighted by a three-run homer by Jose Tena. RubberDucks starting pitcher Hunter Stanley fired 6.1 scoreless frames, and retired 12 in a row to record the win. Yard Goats slugger Grant Lavigne cranked a solo home run in the eighth inning, and Hartford had the tying run at the plate when the game ended. The Yard Goats were denied their fourth win in five games.

The RubberDucks began the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back singles off Hartford starter Nick Garcia. Jose Tena followed with his first home run of the season, a three-run shot off the batter’s eye in center field. Later in the inning, Joe Noranjo doubled home Bryan Lavastida to make it 4-0. Noranjo scored on a sacrifice fly to complete a 5-run inning. Garcia settled down after the first inning and did not allow a single run over the next five innings with four strikeouts.

Akron starter Hunter Stanley was impressive, and after allowing a leadoff single to start the game to Bladimir Restituyo, he retired the next 12 batters. He faced the minimum from the second through the fifth innings. The Yard Goats threatened with a pair of singles in the sixth inning but the right hander worked out of the jam.

The Yard Goats scored their first run in the eighth inning as Grant Lavigne smashed his sixth home run over the right field fence to make it 5-1. Hartford added a run in the ninth inning on Niko Decolati’s RBI single to make it 5-2. The Yard Goats had runners at first and third base in the ninth, and Akron’s closer Cade Smith came on to retire Bladimir Restituyo to end the game, and earn his 13^th save.

The Yard Goats continue their two-city 12-game road trip on Thursday night at 6:35, and play the third of a six-game series against the RubberDucks. The game can be heard on AM 1410 WPOP, FM 100.9 and the iheart radio app. The Yard Goats return home to Dunkin’ Park on Tuesday, June 6th (7:10 PM), and host the New York Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, for a six-game series.