Akron 5-8-1Hartford 7-7-1WP: Peter Lambert (2-1)LP: Shao-Ching Chaing (3-1)S: Matt Pierpont (10)HR: Phillips (1), Rodgers (8), Jones (4), Marabell (5)T- 2:19A- 4,483
Akron 5-8-1
Hartford 7-7-1
WP: Peter Lambert (2-1)
LP: Shao-Ching Chaing (3-1)
S: Matt Pierpont (10)
HR: Phillips (1), Rodgers (8), Jones (4), Marabell (5)
T- 2:19
A- 4,483
HARTFORD, CT- Home runs by Brendan Rodgers, Mylz Jones and Anthony Phillips and a spectacular play by Rodgers at third base, lifted the Hartford Yard Goats to a 7-5 win over the first place Akron Rubber Ducks Thursday night. The Yard Goats (22-18) snapped a three-game losing streak, before 4,483 at Dunkin' Donuts Park, displaying the swagger they showed in their previous two home stands.
Trailing 5-4, entering the sixth inning, the Yard Goats tied it on Rodgers' eighth home run of the season and his sixth at home, a shot to the left of the big video board in left-center. Following a walk to Brian Mundell, starting pitcher Shao-Ching Chaing surrendered a two-run home run down the left field line to Jones, giving the Yard Goats the lead. The Akron right hander, who had not allowed a home run in 39 innings pitched, surrendered three in seven innings pitched against Hartford.
Meanwhile, Rodgers, playing third base, managed to preserve the lead in the seventh inning with a spectacular diving catch along the third base line on a low line drive hit by Willi Castro. He then doubled up Andrew Calica at second base to end the frame.
The Cleveland Indians affiliate had taken an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, off of Hartford starter Peter Lambert, with a home run by Connor Marabell. But Hartford came right back in its half of the inning on a three-run home run by Phillips, playing his second game since returning from the Colorado Rockies Triple-A affiliate Albuquerque. Akron (22-18) came back with three runs in the third off of Lambert and took a one-run lead in the fifth inning on an error.
Lambert managed to pitch six innings to notch his second victory of the season (2-1). He allowed seven hits and all of Akron's runs, but he did not walk anybody and struck out three. Mitch Horacek, Logan Cozart and Matt Pierpont each pitched a scoreless inning, with Pierpont recording his league-leading 10th save.
Jones led the Hartford offense with his two-run home run, a double and two runs scored. Yonathan Daza had a double and single, while Rodgers and Phillips hit home runs.
Game two of the series is Friday night at 7:05. RHP Parker French will pitch for the Yard Goats against RHP Jake Paulson for Akron. The game will be televised on Vantage Sportsnet, broadcast on AM 1410 WPOP and streamed on newsradio.1410.com and MiLB.com.
