Yard Goats Comeback Falls Short Against RubberDucks

Final: Akron 4, Hartford 3

WP: Carlos Vargas (1-0)

LP: Nick Bush (5-4)

SV: Jerson Ramirez (3)

T- 2:38

A- 6,850

Hartford, CT - The Hartford Yard Goats scored three unanswered runs and threatened to tie in the bottom of the ninth inning but its comeback fell just short as the Akron RubberDucks held on to beat the Yard Goats 4-3 in front of a third straight sellout crowd at Dunkin' Donuts Park on Sunday afternoon. Hunter Stovall tallied two extra base hits including a leadoff double in the ninth, however Akron denied Hartford its third consecutive win. The Yard Goats start their final series of the first half (six-game set) on Tuesday in Somerset, New Jersey and trail the Yankees affiliate by just one game in the standings.

Akron got on the board first in the top of the second inning on an RBI groundout by Daniel Schneemann off Hartford's starter Nick Bush. The RubberDucks added to their lead in the third on a three-run homer by Jonathan Engelmann to make the score 4-0. Hartford carved into Akron's lead in the bottom of the third when Aaron Schunk lined an RBI single into left field, scoring Isaac Collins off RubberDucks starter Gavin Williams to cut Akron's lead to 4-1.

Hartford's bullpen was once again terrific, shutting down the RubberDucks hitters. Yard Goats relievers Jared Biddy, Will Gaddis, Trent Fennell and Fineas Del Bonta-Smith combined to pitch six scoreless innings while allowing just two hits.

The Yard Goats rallied with two outs in the sixth to score another run. Niko Decolati singled to center and Hunter Stovall followed up with a line drive double to score Decolati, cutting Akron's lead to 4-2. In the ninth, Hunter Stovall led off with a double and Ezequiel Tovar followed with a pinch-hit single. Aaron Schunk's RBI groundout scored Stovall to make it 4-3, but the Yard Goats were unable to tie up the game. The Yard Goats lost four of six to the RubberDucks, their first series loss since facing Somerset in late April.

The Yard Goats head to Somerset to play a six-game series with the first place Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots starting Tuesday at 7:05. RHP Noah Davis will start for the Yard Goats. Hartford is one game back of Somerset with six games remaining in the first half of the regular season. The game will be broadcast on Newsradio 1410 WPOP.