New Britain Falls Short Against Akron; Lose 5-3

New Britain, CT - The Rock Cats could not extend their three-game win streak as they took on the Akron RubberDucks Tuesday evening at New Britain Stadium, losing 5-3.

 

The RubberDucks bounced out to an early 2-0 lead after three innings of play on a triple by 2B Joe Wendle. Wendle sent a shot down the first base line that snuck between 1B Kennys Vargas and the bag and rolled around near the Rock Cats bullpen before it could be thrown into the infield. Both 3B Ronny Rodriguez and CF Tyler Naquin scored on the play.

 

New Britain would make some two-out noise in the bottom half of the sixth. After Akron rolled up a double play, LF Tony Thomas lined a double out to deep left and DH Nate Hanson followed with a line drive past a diving Rodriguez to cut Akron's lead in half. Hanson was thrown out by LF Bryson Myles in an attempt to stretch the single into a double.

 

The visitors would answer back the following inning with three more runs to make it a 5-1 ballgame. Rodriguez cracked a single between third and shortstop to bring home Myles, who led off the top of the seventh with a double off of Rock Cats starter LHP Taylor Rogers. The lefthander then gave up an RBI triple to DH Alex Lavisky, scoring C Tony Wolters. Rodriguez was thrown out at home to keep it to just one run on the play. A bunt single by Naquin put Lavisky across the plate and increased the lead by four.

 

Not going without a fight, the Rock Cats offense picked up two runs in the bottom of the seventh on RBI doubles from RF Reynaldo Rodriguez and C Kyle Knudson, the latter of was the last batter of the night for Akron starter RHP Will Roberts.

 

Rogers worked seven innings for the home club, allowing five runs, all earned, on eight hits while walking two and striking out four. New Britain received scoreless innings from both RHP Cole Johnson and Matt Summers. Rogers' record falls to 5-4.

 

Akron's Roberts went six and two-thirds before handing the ball over to the bullpen. He gave up three runs, all earned, on six hits while walking two and striking out seven. Roberts improves to 5-6 and RubberDucks reliever RHP Shawn Armstrong picks up his eighth save of the season.

 

The Cats continue their three-game series against the Rubber Ducks on Wednesday night when they send LHP Sean Gilmartin to the hill to square off against Akron's RHP Cody Anderson. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.