Grand slam lifts Harrisburg Senators over Akron RubberDucks
Senators 7, RubberDucks 3
Gilbert Lara hit a grand slam to key a seven-run ninth inning as the Senators snapped the RubberDucks' five-game win streak Saturday night in Akron.
Harrisburg had just two hits in the ninth and only three for the game, but it overcame a 3-0 deficit with three walks (one intentional) and two hit batsmen to set up Lara's game-winning blast.
Lara's third home run of the season, off Kyle Marman, broke a 3-3. Andrew Young scored on the grand slam but was the responsibility of reliever Cade Smith (0-1), who suffered the loss. Up until then, Ducks starter Tanner Burns and reliever Luis Oviedo had each pitched four scoreless innings.
Burns was tagged for one hit and Oviedo none before the Smith and Marman got in trouble in the ninth. Marman blew his third save opportunity.
The Ducks took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on Eric Rodriguez's two-run double, his third of the year. The Ducks (40-28) added another run an inning later when Chris Roller hit a solo homer to left field.
The Ducks remained one game ahead of Richmond atop the Eastern League's Southwest Division, and close out the series with Harrisburg (29-39) at 2:05 p.m. Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Gilbert Lara's ninth-inning grand slam lifts Senators over Ducks
