The New Hampshire Fisher Cats avoided a sweep in Akron, defeating the RubberDucks 9-6 on Thursday night.
After five home runs in the first two games of the series, the Fisher Cats began Wednesday’s contest with a pair of their own three-run longballs, first from Lourdes Gurriel and the second from Tim Lopes.
Luigi Rodriguez responded for Akron quickly responded with a two-run shot of his own in the second, but Richard Urena would put New Hampshire’s lead back up to five half an inning later with a solo four-bagger of his own.
While that would be the last home run of the game, there would be more offense. New Hampshire got a pair of runs off three hits in the sixth, and that would be enough to withstand four more anticlimactic runs from Akron spread out over the game’s final three innings.
Jonathan Davis reached home on both of New Hampshire’s first two home runs and he also collected three hits of his own, joining Urena and Harold Ramirez in the three-hit club for the Fisher Cats. Yu-Cheng Chang and Greg Allen led the way at the plate for Akron with each getting two hits, with Rodriguez adding two walks to his homer.
On the mound, Jon Harris was the winner of record for New Hampshire, allowing four hits and three walks in six innings of work, striking out six in the effort. Andrew Case retired the final two batters of the contest for his sixth Eastern League save of 2017.
Matt Esparza was Akron’s losing pitcher, requiring 87 pitches to get just 11 outs. He gave up seven of New Hampshire’s nine runs, giving up eight hits and a pair of walks, striking out four.
New Hampshire now heads to Erie, PA for a series with the SeaWolves. Thomas Pannone (6-2, 3.01 ERA) takes the hill for New Hampshire against a SeaWolves starter yet to be named. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
