Aug. 8: Kokx homers, but Ducks fall in Harrisburg, 4-3
August 8, 2023 RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Harrisburg Senators (17-17, 48-54) 4, Akron RubberDucks (18-16, 53-49) 3 WP: Mitchell Parker (8-4) LP: Doug Nikhazy (4-6) Save: Nash Walters (2) Summary Akron left fielder Connor Kokx homered among two hits, and second baseman Juan Brito also had two hits
August 8, 2023 RubberDucks Game Recap | **[Box Score**](https://www.milb.com/gameday/724074/final/box)
Harrisburg Senators (17-17, 48-54) 4, Akron RubberDucks (18-16, 53-49) 3
WP: Mitchell Parker (8-4) LP: Doug Nikhazy (4-6) Save: Nash Walters (2)
Summary
Akron left fielder Connor Kokx homered among two hits, and second baseman Juan Brito also had two hits and an RBI, but Harrisburg left-hander Mitchell Parker struck out 13 batters in six innings to lead the Senators to a 4-3 win over the RubberDucks in the series opener at FNB Field Tuesday night.
LIFTOFF @connorkokx = TIE GAME
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 8, 2023
TOP 4 | Akron 3 | Harrisburg 3 pic.twitter.com/2GMHDKMugA
Turning Point
In a 3-3, fifth-inning tie, Harrisburg shortstop Trey Lipscomb singled to center field with one out against Akron left-hander Doug Nikhazy. Center fielder James Wood grounded a double down the left-field line, and Lipscomb scored while Kokx was trying to corral the ball in the left-field corner, giving Harrisburg a 4-3 lead.
Mound Presence
Nikhazy walked two batters in the first inning, when Wood hit a two-run double to give Harrisburg a 2-1 lead. Nikhazy also allowed a run on two hits in the second inning but stranded a runner in each of the third and fourth innings. He lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs – three earned – on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Right-hander Tyler Thornton made his Double-A debut after Nikhazy departed in the fifth and recorded four outs around two walks with three strikeouts. Left-hander Matt Turner worked around a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings. Right-hander Tanner Burns worked around a walk with a strikeout in a scoreless eighth inning.
Duck Tales
Akron took a first-inning lead against left-hander Mitchell Parker. Center fielder Petey Halpin drew a leadoff walk and scored when Brito laced a two-out RBI double down the third-base line. With Akron trailing, 3-1, in the fourth, catcher Micael Ramírez singled to left-center field, and Kokx drilled a game-tying, two-run home run to left field. Ramírez had a two-hit game and threw out two Senators baserunners attempting to steal second base.
Back in the lineup, ready to produce!
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 8, 2023
Juan Brito RBI double
TOP 1 | Akron 1 | Harrisburg 0 pic.twitter.com/mBS5CoWQ4C
DOUBLE PLAY SPECIAL:@tylrthorntn strikeout + Micael Ramírez throw to @milantolentino pic.twitter.com/rh1SgWPMPq
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 9, 2023
Notebook
Brito extended a 21-game on-base streak, the longest active streak in the Eastern League…The RubberDucks trail Richmond (20-14) by two games in the Southwest Division second-half race…Akron leads the season series with Harrisburg, 8-5…Game Time: 2:36…Attendance: 4,890.
On the Pond
The RubberDucks continue their series in Harrisburg at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at FNB Field. Right-hander Tommy Mace (3-2, 4.73 ERA) is scheduled to face Senators right-hander Michael Cuevas (2-4, 5.07 ERA). The game broadcast is on 640 WHLO, the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio channel, and akronrubberducks.com, and available on Bally Live. Tickets for RubberDucks home games are available at akronrubberducks.com/tickets.